FRIDAY, September 2, 2022 ONLINE www.bigrigs.com.au EMAIL info@bigrigs.com.au TRUCKING IN THE BLOOD FOR FATHER AND SON TWO-UP COMBINATION: PAGES 12-14 www.truckart.com.au Phone 02 6926 0400 Lic No: MVRL 15274 Sleeper Cab Cooling Solutions * Evaporative air conditioners * Refrigerated air conditioners * Diesel air conditioners We have all types of sleeper cab cooling solutions to suit your needs and budget Sleep anywhere, anytime in comfort Call us today to discuss the best system for you Evaporative Refrigerated Diesel Refrigerated DYNAMIC DUO Truckies on priority list ‘Why we walked away from driving’ Page 3 Pages 10-11 PhotographyKarlByGotchacredit:Photo
HINO GENUINE ACCESSORIES BETTER PERFORMANCE, APPEARANCE & VALUE The CMI Hino team are your trusted Hino Genuine Accessories Specialists. We offer a great range of accessories at incredible prices, so if you want to enhance the appearance of your Hino or keep your business looking professional, our experienced parts staff can help you find the right Hino Genuine Accessories to suit your needs. For orders and enquiries, contact our friendly parts team or visit us at any of our three conveniently located dealerships.CMIHino,your trusted Hino Genuine Accessories Specialists. *3 year unlimited kilometre warranty refers to accessories fitted in our workshop. Please refer to the website for full terms and conditions. REGENCY PARK (SA) 569 SOUTH ROAD PH: (08) 8243 8100 LONSDALE (SA) 11-15 LINDSAY ROAD (08) PH: 8243 8167 DERRIMUT (VIC) 326 BOUNDARY ROAD PH: (03) 9931 6500 cmihino.com.au parts@cmihinomelbourne.com.auparts@cmihinoadelaide.com.au Address: 11-15 Buckhurst Street, South Melbourne VIC 3205 Phone: 03 9690 8766 Email: editor@bigrigs.com.au Web: bigrigs.com.au Accounts: 03 9690 8766 Subscriptions: 03 9690 8766 Classifieds: 0403 626 353 Circulation and distribution queries: 03 9690 info@bigrigs.com.au8766 EDITOR James Graham: 0478 546 james.graham@primecreative.com.au462 REPORTER Danielle danielle.gullaci@primecreative.com.auGullaci GENERAL MANAGER Peter Hockings: 0410 334 peter.hockings@primecreative.com.au371 CLIENT SUCCESS Katharine Causer: 0423 055
Truckies invited to have their say on licensing
• Strengthening skill and knowledge making compe tency requirements specific to each licence class, setting minimum course length, and recognising the extra skill needed to drive the most complex vehicles.
AUSTROADS is encouraging drivers, employers and trainers to have their say on proposed changes to heavy vehicle driver licensing in Australia. The changes are docu mented in a Consultation Regulation Impact Statement (C-RIS) which seeks feedback on proposed changes to the National Heavy Vehicle Driv er Competency Framework (NHVDCF). The framework was endorsed by ministers in 2011 but has only been im plemented in four states and territories.Atthe request of transport ministers, Austroads has been undertaking an extensive pro gram of work to review and improve the NHVDCF. Aus troads’ review aims to deliver a harmonised Australian li cence training and assessment framework that produces safe and competent heavy vehicle drivers, and reflects the current and future needs of heavy ve hicle operators and the future freight task. Four key areas of change are proposed: • Managing individual driver risk ensuring only drivers without serious driving of fences are eligible to hold a heavy vehicle licence.
WASTE company Bingo Indus tries has entered pleas of guilty to criminal cartel offences relat ing to price fixing for demoli tion waste services in Sydney. Bingo was charged with these offences after an investi gation by the ACCC and re ferral to the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions (CDPP)Itis alleged that in mid2019, Bingo agreed with its competitors Aussie Skips Bin Services and Aussie Skips Recy cling to fix and increase prices for the supply of skip bins and the provision of waste process ing services for building and demolition waste in Sydney. Bingo’s former managing director and CEO Daniel Tar tak has also been charged with two criminal cartel offences. The charges relate to alleged breaches of the cartel provisions of the Competition and Con sumer Act and will be heard by the Federal Court. “When companies arrange to fix prices, they usually do so to increase their profits, and it is consumers that pay the in creased cost,” said ACCC chair Gina“WeCass-Gottlieb.arecommitted to de tecting and investigating seri ous cartel allegations and tak ing appropriate action against those who are a party to illegal cartel behaviour, including re ferral of matters to the CDPP. “Cartel conduct not only frequently impacts consum ers, but it can also significant ly harm competing businesses and the economy more broad ly. Trying to detect cartels early and working with whistleblow ers is an essential component of ourThework.”matter will be listed for case management hearing in the Federal Court at a later stage.For corporations, the max imum fine for each criminal cartel offence is the greater of: • $10 million • three times the total benefit that has been obtained and which is reasonably attribut able to the commission of the offence, or • if the value of the benefit ob tained cannot be determined, 10 per cent of the corpora tion’s annual turnover con nected with Australia. An individual convicted of a criminal cartel offence may be sentenced to up to 10 years’ imprisonment or fined up to $444,000, or both. Anyone with information about cartel conduct is urged to call the ACCC Cartel Hotline on (02) 9230 3894. Bingo was charged after an investigation by the ACCC.
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 02 2022 BIGRIGS.COM.AU2 NEWS
CONTRIBUTORS Truckin in the Topics/Spy on the Road: Alf Wilson, 0408 009 301 Brent Davison; David Vile; David Meredith; Mike Williams; Jon Wallis Big Rigs National Road Transport Newspaper is published by Prime Creative Media. It is the largest circulated fortnightly truck publication in Australia with 26,023* copies per fortnight. *12 month average, publisher’s claim November 2018
CONTACT US
Bingo pleads guilty to alleged demolition waste cartel com.aukatharine.causer@primecreative.787
• Embedding behind-thewheel experience requiring minimum behind-thewheel time pre-licence and supervised driving sessions post-licence.
• Introducing experi ence-based progression op tions enabling those drivers who can demonstrate driv ing and work experience to progress to higher licence classes more rapidly. “This is a particularly chal lenging time for employers and we know industry is hop ing that any proposed changes will help to increase the num ber of drivers,” said Austroads CEO Geoff Allan. The C-RIS is out for comment until October 28. To have your say, visit aus troads.com.au and search for NHVDCF.
• Developoment of agreed minimum employment conditions. • Development and delivery of a basic training course, re gardless of the driver’s coun try of Dumesnyorigin.believes the safety concerns that many Australian truckies have regarding foreign drivers can be addressed by ensuring the training course delivers on the below.
Push for truck drivers to be added to migration program motoradcoradiators.com.au MOTORADCO North Coast & QLD Distributor LOCAL NATIONALKNOWLEDGESTRENGTHGLOBALNETWORK NOW CLEANING OUT DPF FILTERS & restoring existing charge air coolers • Competitive Prices • 12 Months Warranty • Pressure Tested with a zero leak policy • Freightliner • International • Western Star • Kenworth • Mack We supply Kenworth T600, T604 & T404 Mack Titan with & without Air Conditioning International Transtar & S3600 DELIVERY METRO & AUSTRALIA WIDE Access to more than 10 warehouses Australia-wide, we have the ability to service your needs across the country Authorised Radiator Service Depots (RSD) NEW K200 Charge Air Coolers from $2,585 inc GST 02 9637 3017 02 6622 3522 137- 139 Parramatta Rd Granville NSW 1/7 Wilson Street Sth South Lismore NSW 0 0 0 0 @Motoradco
“For a combination of rea sons, many transport compa nies in WA have long given up on using online job ad verts. With one member who requires in excess of 150 MC drivers now just posting a sin gle generic advert online, with the numbers of actual drivers needed not even listed.” Labor’s Skills and Training Minister Brendan O’Connor, however, has said his govern ment will focus on investing in Australian workers instead of increasing skilled migration to addressO’Connorshortages.recently told Sky News Australia that the Albanese government would prioritise helping Australians enter the labour market in ar eas that are facing acute skills shortages.“Ourpriority will also be to invest in Australian workers, those in the labour market and those seeking work because there are opportunities for people who have been locked out of the labour market,” he said.•For more skills shortage fixes from the Western Roads Federation, turn to pages 54-55.
NEWS 3BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 02 2022
• Finally, that they are trained in On Road Safe Trucking practices in Australia. Ev erything from how to ac knowledge and respond to calls from escort pilots of wide loads to truck rest area etiquette.“Evenwith effective access to the under employed, there are simply not enough people in WA to realistically train to meet the current freight task demands,” Dumesny added. “Enabling our members to sponsor suitably skilled trans port industry migrants into the State is needed. Currently such sponsorship is limited to only the Designated Area Migra tion Agreements [DAMA].” Dumesny, however, said members who have applied to sponsor suitably skilled migrants through this scheme have been frustrated by pro longed processing delays by the Department of Immigra tion.He tells King that the Na tional Skills Commission is being misinformed about the true shortfall of drivers in the state, and beyond. “The reasons behind this are assumed to be that Nation al Skills Commission essential ly uses online job adverts to determine skills shortages.
• Independently verifies for eign drivers can competently drive the vehicle combina tions listed on their licence.
The WRF estimates that the state is losing over $2.8 million a day due to truckie shortages.
LOBBYING by the peak WA transport body to have foreign drivers added to the federal government’s permanent mi gration program has got the thumbs up from the state’s Premier Mark McGowan. McGowan told reporters that he will use the Jobs and Skills Summit in Canberra from September 1-2 to push to have “semi-skilled” sectors, such as truck drivers, added to the federal government’s per manent migration program. Canberra is responsible for setting minimum visa require ments for foreign workers, and also decides what occupations could benefit most from a boost from overseas. Each state then selects jobs on that list for inclusion in its own migration program, which provides applicants with bonuses in the pointsbased system used by the De partment of Home Affairs to approveMcGowanvisas. recently ex panded that list for WA but can’t include truck drivers un til they are on the Common wealth’s line-up, which at the time of writing boasts 674 oc cupations, the vast majority of which require either a univer sity degree or TAFE training. “We’ve been listening to in dustry on this matter, which is why the Premier has flagged he will be asking the Common wealth at the upcoming na tional Jobs and Skills Summit to consider a broader range of occupations to meet the de mand for workers in WA,” a spokesman said. Peak WA trucking body, the Western Roads Federation (WRF), has written to federal Transport Minister Catherine King calling for urgent action to address the industry’s “crit ical” skills shortage in the state. In the letter which outlines seven key recommendations, CEO Cam Dumesny says fed eration members estimate that the state is losing over $2.8 million a day due to truck ie shortages, and that is just across the resources bulk haul ageTosector.help fix the problem, the WRF asks that the federal and state governments immediate ly place the category of truck drivers on the Priority Skills Migration List, with the fol lowing conditions attached:
• They are formally trained in WA’s heavy vehicle regu lations.
More converted trucks are due to hit the road from this month. Janus has progressed from a front-loading battery swap design to a more practical side-load system.
BY JAMES GRAHAM
JANUS Electric, the NSW start-up transforming die sel-powered prime movers into electric heavy-haulers, is open ing its first charge-and-change battery station in Brisbane in earlyTheSeptember.depot at Hemmant, near the Port of Brisbane, will be first used by its converted Western Star as it does tipper trials for Holcim carting bulk sand around Brisbane to con crete“We’replants.honing the charging infrastructure in and starting to do some real-world applica tions,” said Janus Electric gen eral manager Lex Forsyth. The milestone opening of the first station, which will also be part of the proposed Bris bane to Sydney route, comes just days after Janus put Ce ment Australia’s converted T410 through ADR testing in Goulburn at the end of August. Forsyth expects it to be fully registered by October. “It’s unbelievable where we’ve got to with our gear shift ing as well and the control of the gear boxes,” he said. “I drove the truck Western Star on Thursday [August 18] and we’re catching trucks up Ourimbah Hill going into Syd ney fully Forsythloaded.”hasalso recently re turned from the US where he’s fielded “significant” interest from major fleets. “We’ve overcome the prob lem for them of having to have assets parked up and charging, and they like the idea of the ex changeable technology and also being able to convert existing trucks.“So, we’ve got a number of fleets that are interested in the US, and we’re looking at doing some trials in California and Texas next year.” Forsyth said Janus also has new interest from Unitrans in South“They’veAfrica. got mining spec Volvo’s there that are doing haulage work for Rio Tinto and a couple of other miners in in the African continent, similar sort of stuff to what we’re doing here with the triple and super quads.“They’ve reached out and want to start converting some of their existing fleet over there. The level of inquiry that we’ve got right around the world is prettyCloserspectacular.”tohome, Forsyth is also excited about working with the Melbourne division of NewCold, a worldwide frozen food and freezer logistics com pany.“They’re putting a charge and change station in Trugani na in their facility down there, and we’ve got two trucks going in there to start some trial work for “So,them.it’s pretty exciting. They want to roll it out around their other fleets around the world.” As interest in the Janus Electric exchangeable technol ogy continues to grow, Forsyth says he’d like to see the federal and state governments start to get on board, either by way of investment or helping get facili ties open “There’squicker.agood step taken forward about fuel emission standards. But one of the things we’re waiting on is for the ADR rules to be updated so that we can run 6.5 tonnes on steer axle, because the ruling says you’ve got to be Euro 4. “An electric motor doesn’t meet any of those standards because it’s better than Euro 4, but because of that we can’t get a modification plate at the moment for one of the vehicles. “Just trying to get the leg islation and the design rules in Australia to catch up to electric vehicles is frustrating.”
Janus Electric charges ahead with trials MELBOURNE PH: (03) 9563 0000 SYDNEY PH: (02) 9756 5111 SEE A FULL RANGE OF OUR PRODUCTS AT WWW.SPARECO.COM.AU PRODUCTSANDHEAVY-DUTYAUTOMOTIVE AutomotiveFleetRunnerGreenStripeDriveAlignOilResistantHoseVulco-FlexFuelLineHoseAutomotiveRadiatorHoseIndustrialBeltsIDHoseReducersHoseClampsMerchandisers&muchmore!
As for the proposed Brisbane to Sydney route, Forsyth says there are also a couple of issues around charge and change sites
4 NEWS FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 02 2022 BIGRIGS.COM.AU
A converted Western Star is due to start trials for Holcim in Brisbane from early September.
“This will be influenced by a range of factors including access to the right technology, indus try incentives, customer expec tations, regulatory settings and investor sentiment as well as global capital markets. ALC again reiterated the need to address the impact on fuel excise revenue and called on all governments to start planning now for alternative road funding methods. “Simply put, less petrol and diesel vehicles will mean less fuel excise revenue collected. “This source of funding is tied to road transport infra structure funding and ALC again calls for National Cabinet to address the uncertain future funding of transport infrastruc ture.“Australia has a national economy and our roads con nect our nation, we need to put in place a fit-for-purpose and nationally consistent road user charge for all vehicle types.” A discussion paper on the National Electric Vehicle Strat egy will shortly be released for wideAtconsultation.theheartof the strategy will be a plan to improve up take of electric vehicles and im prove affordability and choice. “We want to hear your views on how best to design fuel ef ficiency standards in Australia to meet industry and consumer needs now and for generations to come, so I encourage people to have their say,” said King.
Seating - on a higher level. www.isri.com.au
Everyday demands are increasing, Safety is important. To achieve Safety you require comfort. Make sure you have an ISRI Seat.
ADELAIDE TAMDELE, 21 Hakkinen Road, Wingfield SA 5013 Ph. 08 8347 1222, email: sales@gitsham.com.au, www.gitsham.com.au
MACKAY 110 – 120 Maggiolo Drive, Paget QLD 4740 Ph. 07 4952 1844, email: admin@isrimky.com.au, www.isriseatsmackay.com.au
T1/4P-A4-2
When moving Heavy Loads comfort equals Safety.
which have been compounded by recent flooding events on the east“We’recoast. trying to finalise a site at Taree at the moment. We were looking at Grafton but the issue around Grafton was with those one-in-a-hundred-year floods.“A lot of the sites that we had allocated were compro mised with that; it doesn’t make sense to put battery assets in floodways.“We’reworking on a site in Ballina at the moment but the biggest challenge I think we face is getting the adequate electrical grid connections to be able to run the charge and change sta tions in a timely manner.”
Forsyth is also confident that the cause of the July 14 battery fire that destroyed the prototype Kenworth T403 at its Berkeley Vale base on the NSW Central Coast is also no longer an “Whatissue.wefound is that one of the plugs that we have engi neered out of the battery was one of the contributing factors. We had what we call a ‘hot joint’ in a plug.” Forsyth said the other factor was the constant power to the BMS units in the now defunct generation 3 battery. “That truck was basically waiting to come in to get the upgrades because we’re up to generation 4 battery now. “It is new technology, and I can’t say that will never ever, ever happen again. But we have certainly taken some major steps in preventing and engi neering out the issues that we’ve had.“We’re very confident with what we’ve done, and the changes that we’ve made to the batteries, that that risk of fire will not be there again. “But that’s part of the part of the parcel of what we’re doing at the moment, you know, we’ve got some of the largest batteries on these vehicles than on any other trucks in the world.”
NEWS 5BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 02 2022
Seating - on a higher level. www.isri.com.au Everyday demands are increasing, Safety is important. T1/4P-A4-2
SYDNEY 510 Victoria Street, Wetherill Park NSW 2164 Ph. 02 9756 6199, email: isri@isri.com.au, www.isri.com.au
PERTH Unit 2/12 Adrian Street, Welshpool WA 6106 Ph. 08 9362 6800, email: info@mmtisri.com.au, www.mmtisri.com.au
Heavy vehicles must be part of Australia’s EV strategy
MELBOURNE Unit 1/569 Somerville Rd, Sunshine West VIC, 3020 Ph. 03 9311 5544, email: sales@isrisunshine.com.au, www.isri.com.au
When moving Heavy Loads comfort equals Safety.
ALC again reiterated the need to address the impact electrification will have on fuel excise revenue.
Seating - on a higher level. www.isri.com.au
BRISBANE 3/120 Gardens Drive, Willawong QLD 4110 Ph. 07 3275 2044, email: sales@isribrisbane.com.au, www.isribrisbane.com.au
DEALERS
Forsyth says Janus will have Mount Gambier and Port Au gusta charge and change sites openQubesooner.trucks are expected to be utilising the Port Augusta depot by the end of October, while Mount Gambier-based Fennell Forestry is on track to have the first electrified logging B-double working in the ‘green triangle’ in operation by Sep tember.“We’re very confident with what we’re doing, and this is all starting to come to fruition and starting to work really well now,” said Forsyth.
NEWCASTLE/HUNTER VALLEY Unit 2/13 Hinkler Ave, Rutherford NSW 2320 Ph 02 4932 0600, email: sales@hvss.com.au www.isri.com.au
DARWIN Mobile Sales and Service Ph. 08 8927 0986, email: info@isridarwin.com.au, www.isridarwin.com.au
ISRI SEATS
Seating - on a higher level.
Everyday demands are increasing, Safety is important. To achieve Safety you require comfort. Make sure you have an ISRI Seat.
THE Australian Logistics Council (ALC) has welcomed the Australian Government’s commitment to an Electric Ve hicle Strategy and called for the inclusion of heavy vehicles. ALC has also repeated calls for a discussion on the future funding of transport infrastruc ture as the uptake of EV’s de pletes fuel excise revenue. ALC CEO Dr Hermione Parsons said the supply chain sector was on a path to emis sions reduction and congrat ulated Energy Minister Chris Bowen and Transport Minister Catherine King on their efforts to progress the next steps in establishing the first National Electric Vehicle Strategy. “While the transport sector faces a number of challenges in reducing emissions, it is an ob vious focus for action to achieve Australia’s emissions reduction target. ALC has developed rec ommendations to support our net-zero transition,” said Dr Parsons.“The freight and supply chain sector is already on a path to emissions reduction with many ALC members com mitted to net zero targets. It is critical that the new strategy consults widely with the freight and logistics sector and factors in the needs of our heavy vehi cle “Acrossfleet. the end-to-end sup ply chain there is a varying de gree of difficulty in decarbonis ing activity. For example, with road transport, electrification is relatively straight-forward for smaller vehicles. Yet long haul and heavy loads bring addition al challenges around weight and the high-power needs for fast charging.“Inthe interests of our na tional economy, jobs and stan dard of living we must make the transition to alternative fuels a success, freight, transport and logistics is critical.
Truckies in the trial are fitted out with the vests by research staff at Griffith University.
Truckies wear special vests for $200k fatigue research
Meaghan Siemensma Contribution to Industry Award Meaghan Siemensma has been dedicated to raising the profile of women in the modern supply chain, as well as the environmental and sustainable work practices throughout the industry. She has served as a mentor for many young supply chain professionals, leading by ex ample to show the diversity of career options in the industry.
A total of $196,524 I funding was provided by the Office of Road Safety, which is part of the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications for the project.The project’s senior re search assistant, Dr Caro line Robertson, explained: “Academics from Griffith University identified a need for research exploring psy chological, physiological and in-vehicle data monitoring predictors of fatigue in pro fessional drivers. So far no one has examined these three factors in one model of fa tigue but we know that they all independently play a part in drowsy driving.” So far, drivers from Bingo Industries and Toll Group are involved in the trial, which uses Hexoskin biometric vests. Though there are just 40 drivers taking part so far, researchers are hopeful that more truckies will sign up. The goal is to get 250 drivers involved.Drivers wear the vests for a total of six days: five days driving at work and on one day off so the team can assess how well they recover after a period of work. “The Hexoskins are bio metric shirts which allow us to measure heart rate and breathing responses. This data can give us an indication of how stressed or tired some one is,” Robertson said. “We then overlay this data with the other data we are collecting, the psycho logical and in-vehicle data, to form a picture of what is happening when a driver is fatigued. In vehicle monitor ing data includes things like lane positioning, distance from other vehicles and steer ing wheel angle. “Once we have all this data and have undergone the anal ysis we will be able to inform companies of which factors contribute most to fatigue but occur prior to a safety incident occurring. In other words, we want people to be informed as to what signs to look for before they even set foot behind the wheel so that incidents are prevented.”
IFC Global Logistics –International Direct to Store Program Freight Transport Solution of the Year IFC’s advanced Internation al Direct-to-Store model enables customers to place bulk purchase orders with vendors in advance. The op portunity to build up inven tory levels from a centralised international distribution centre means goods are readily available for demand fulfilment with complete accuracy. This helps to mit igate challenges associated with production lead time disruptions, as goods can be immediately delivered by the vendor in advance of the shipment window required date.
6 NEWS FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 02 2022 BIGRIGS.COM.AU
PROUDLY MANUFACTURED AND BUILT IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA SINCE 1986 DELIVERY AUSTRALIA WIDE AUSTRALIAN MADE AUSTRALIANwith STEEL 566 WATERLOO CORNER ROAD BURTON SA 5110 PH: 08 8280 6475 | E: admin@freightmastertrailers.com.au For Prices and Stock, please check our www.freightmastertrailers.com.auwebsite:
Gaprie Ltd – P.C.Nets Sustainability Initiative Award winner With an estimated 52,000 tonnes of shrink-wrap used each year, Gaprie has come up with a more sustainable solution in the form of its P.C.Nets, which are a reus abletoalternativetraditional methods for pallet containment. They are easily pulled down around the product and secured to the bottom of the pallet, with an elasticated edging to ensure a tight fit.
Gaprie’s P.C.Nets are a sustainable alternative to shrink-wrap.
Award winners announced at event
MEGATRANS2022
THE Mercury Awards were recently held as part of MEGATRANS2022, a bi annual event focusing on the freight and logistics supply chain, which was held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre from Au gustThese24-26.awards aim to recognise the outstanding achievements and successes of companies across the lo gistics, supply chain and ma terials handling sectors, with winners announced during a special gala dinner event. The 2022 Mercury Award winners were: Complexica Supply Chain Innovator of the Year winner Complexica is a leading pro vider of artificial intelligence software applications that can optimise sales, marketing and supply chain decisions, particularly for organisations characterised by a large SKU range and long tail of cus tomers.To address many wine-production challeng es present in different parts of the wine supply chain, Complexica has developed Supply Chain Optimisation & Planning Environment (SCOPE) that can optimise the end-to-end wine supply chain.
Schneider Electric –SMART Distribution Centre Best Storage Solution Schneider Electric is the global specialist in energy management and automa tion, with operations in over 100 countries. To service Australia and New Zealand region, its warehouse opera tions in Sydney have under gone massive transformation in the last couple of years. In May 2019, the business successfully completed the digital transformation of its flagship Pacific SMART distribution centre (DC) in Sydney.
Schneider Electric’s Smart Distribution Centre in Sydney uses its own EcoStruxure technology, to drive end-to-end efficiency for the industrial environment.
Swisslog Australia – Car ryStar Fully Automated Order Fulfilment System Best Technology Application winner Swisslog’s new CarryStar Fully Automated Order Ful filment System combines Automatic Guided Vehicles (AGVs), KUKA Star Robots and the latest Swisslog SynQ software for optimum effi ciency, flexibility, reliability andThesustainability.scalableand modular CarryStar solution is suitable for small, mid-size and large layer and stack picking oper ations.
GRIFFITH University has received close to $200,000 in government funding for a research trial that involves truckies sporting special bio metric vests, to monitor how fatigue impacts the way they drive.The vests, normally used by elite athletes, monitor physical responses such as heart rate and breathing rate while driving or resting. Researchers are hoping that the data they collect can be used to help predict and then stop fatigue-related crashes. The research team in volves five senior academics, including an expert on driver fatigue.
Version III Koolkat 2kW Whisper Quite The Koolkat is designed for larger sleeper cabs. The unit comes with 2 x auxiliary batteries and a charger which will charge as the truck is driving It works exceptionally well in all weather conditions, dry or humid Colour matching extra Fatigue Management Solutions National Authorised Installers Truck Art Wagga 15 Lewington St Bomen NSW 2650 02 6926 0400 Truck Art Adelaide 4 Mary MawsonStLakes SA 5095 08 8262 6399 Truck Art Melbourne 8 Pinnacle Rd Altona North VIC 3025 03 8360 3166 Hume Truck Technics 1 Queen WodongaStVIC 3690 02 6024 2133 MVM Auto Repairs 6/130 Forrester Rd St Marys NSW 2760 02 9833 1900 Briskair 54 Reginald St Rocklea QLD 4106 07 3277 0980 Daryl Robertson Auto 28-30 Dimboola Rd Horsham VIC 3400 03 5381 1532 K Craft Air 36 Banksia Rd Welshpool WA 6106 08 6247 9188 www.truckart.com.au Lic No: MVRL 15274 Quietest diesel powered unit on the market The Ecowind is a diesel powered unit designed for a range of truck types There are a few different fitment styles depending on your truck • Side mount on chassis - Standard fitment • On top of chassis & Rear of chassis - Extra cost The New Viesa Kompressor III The parking cooler that saves on costs Fuel saving - The driver doesn’t need to use the truck to let the parking cooler work because VIESA Kompressor III works only with truck batteries Longer battery life - The new automotive electronics reduce the charge/discharge cycles. This means that batteries have less stress and increase their life The Viesa Internals and Platinums are designed for all trucks, 12 or 24 volt options They are the same units but the Internal is fitted to the external back wall of the sleeper cab and the Platinum is fitted to the external roof of the sleeper cab. • Cheap to fit / run (water based) • Quiet to run • Supplied with a remote control • 6 to 8 hours usage time depending on truck batteries • 8 speed fan • Annual servicing is required to keep it running to it’s full potential • 1 year warranty Fitted Priced From $3,900.00 + GST Platinum & Internal Evaporative Cooling System
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 02 2022 BIGRIGS.COM.AU
Australia FIT AND FORGET. Explore a comprehensive range of premium quality Lighting and Electrical Products from
- Kerryn Woods J.P JAMES GRAHAM goods/hazardous goods Botany? HELLA hella.com.au
NSW Ports (a private consor tium) now control or manage on a 99-year lease Port Botany and some other port facilities. Over the last 6-12 months NSW Ports has placed No Stopping signs on every road way within Port Botany and have employed private secu rity guards calling themselves PortTheseSecuritysecurity guards have been and continue to intercept any trucks parked within the port claiming that the road is a private road and pointing out the No Stopping signsThis has happened to drivers taking mandatory rest breaks as required by the Heavy Vehicle National Law. Drivers of dangerous goods tankers are being woken up during mandatory rest breaks and being told to move on. My question is to where exactly and by what authority? Drivers of container trucks have a purpose-built facility called the marshalling area, however this is restricted as there is no entry for hazardous goods.So again, where do the dangerous goods/hazardous goods trucks go to? Another question which comes to mind is this: If the port of Port Botany was pur pose-built by the NSW Gov ernment on behalf of the peo ple of NSW back in the 1970s to alleviate overcrowding in Sydney harbour and then leased to a private company to manage, does the port or land including the roads still belong to the people of NSW, government or crown? This matter has been raised by me with the Nation al Heavy Vehicle Regulator, Transport for NSW, Trans port Workers’ Union and Mike Williams from the On The Road Podcast. The NHVR is concerned that port security, therefore NSW Ports, are overstepping the mark and their respon sibilities by waking drivers during rest breaks. Maybe it time for some purpose-built facilities for dangerous goods trucks and drivers within the port simi lar to the facilities available at PortWithKembla.allthe fuss and going on at Gatton, I’m not holding myMaybebreath. someone will do nate a couple of portaloos.
8 OPINION Where do the dangerous
DG drivers woken up during rest breaks and told to move on
trucks go to at Port
I don’t know about you, but I’m starting to get that ‘Here we go again feeling’ with this new federal government. We’re fast approaching the six month mark of their ten ure and what do we have to show for it in transport so far? The biggest headline for us has been securing two porta ble toilets at the Gatton pads. As amazing as that result was, we’re in the proverbial s**t if that’s the best we can hope for when parked up fleets in WA are costing the state $2.8m a day due to the skills shortage. Labor seems to be putting a lot of stock in this jobs sum mit happening in Canberra this week (Sept 1-2). But do more ‘suits’ really need to sit at another conference table and debate the issues again? Just listen to the fixes put forward by the associations and act on them today, be fore it’s too late.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR EDITOR
at
Can we just actiontake
Mixed support for idea Proud moment for MC truckie
The new cameras in action.
Raelene Clark shared a similar sentiment: “Awe some article loved reading your story & great challeng es & awesome wellcongratulationsachievementsRhiannondone&welldeserved.”
ONLINE 9BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 02 2022
New speed cameras roll out in Qld
“Most vehicles capable of being set-up for overnight runs will use 14-16-ish litres per 100km, with sign up. Now, become calculator war riors instead of keyboard war riors. Pilot rates are outdated by about Brendan25yrs.”Lawton reckons the answer is simple – put your rates up. “The loads don’t move without pilots,” he said.
COLUMNIST Graham Cotter’s call for a Royal Com mission to fix the industry’s many woes drew a lukewarm response on Facebook. Garry Hickson reckons the government hasn’t got a clue: “Not one will have real time experience with a truck let alone organising multiple trucks. They simply are not up to the job.” Added Len Welbourne: “So engage lawyers, politi cians and bureaucrats to fix the problems with lawyers, politicians and bureaucrats..... ok Robthen!Hay said that if we all took two weeks holiday, no blockades, nothing to get the public off-side, maybe people might realise how much we rely on drivers in this coun try as it would be crippled in a week! “A royal commission isn’t going to do anything as it takes about 5 years for the results to come out we need action now!” Ian Young said: “They have had royal commissions done in other industries and it’s been a total waste of tax payer $$ as nothing changes.” Arthur Piddlinton-Smyth said he’d instead like to see more consultation with those in the industry including drivers, owner-drivers and fleet operators. OUR inspiring story of how former diesel mechanic Rhi annon Lindley swapped the spanners for the steering wheel and earnt her MC licence draw heaps of high praise from “Congratulationsreaders. young lady on reaching another milestone in your career,” wrote Greg Jeanene Sten house on Facebook. “You will find you never stop learning so if you’re not sure, ask one off your fellow drivers most are more than happy to help. There are a lot of good operators out there. Drive safe eh.” Added Craig Dunstan: “Well done young lady it’s truly a great achievement. I don’t care if you are male or female black white or brin dle if you can do the job and are willing to have a go then good on you for doing it.” Bec Elsworthy was also a big fan of Lindley’s: “Out standing job. Yes, I was told the same thing! Just show if you follow your dreams and ignore the negative peo ple. You light up your own world and we are stronger than we think.”
Added Matt James: The sample photo is great, 60 zone but slow down to 60 because of road works. May be if they fixed the roads and stopped leaving up road work signs when there isn’t any roadworks occurring or changing the speed from 100 to 80 on highways, there won’t be issues.” Pilots fear trouble ahead.
THE rollout of new speed camera tech targeting leadfoot drivers in school zones and roadworks also incited lively online discussion. Richard Walker said this was just another example of why no one wants to drive trucks“I’manymore.allfor safety and slowing down to make sure roadworkers don’t get in jured but I won’t go 60ks for an hour because some traffic controller was too lazy to pick up his cones when no work is actually occurring.” Aaron Head reckons au thorities should put them in places that have roadworks signs, but no actual road works. “Lots of spots on the Bruce highway, basically anywhere north of Gympie. Lazy politicians, lazy coun cils, lazy roadworks crews. Eg; 1 km south of gin gin road has been falling apart for 12+years and all they do is shovel a bit of bitumen and repeat ad nauseam.”
Pilots’ pay fight
WOULD YOU LIKE TO CONTRIBUTE TO READER CORNER? EMAIL US AT EDITOR@BIGRIGS.COM.AU
The AdBlue crisis was just one example of why the industry needs a Royal Commission, argued Graham Cotter. Rhiannon Lindley was driving this Scania up until recently.
PILOT Ray Platt’s rally cry for a fairer kilometre rate commensurate with their expenses and responsibilities sparked a wave of support on our Facebok page. Brent Robertson says he knows of some pilots who haven’t seen their home for weeks on “Whileend.the truckie (me included goes home empty) they are driving to next job with only hours to spare at times,” he “Bettingsaid.half the ‘nega tive Nancys’ here have never worked with pilots directly. Remember fellas if it wasn’t for them our OSOM loads wouldn’t be moving Anywhere.”MarkDalman can’t count the number of times pilots have helped him out. “They deserve anything they want. Can’t really do the big stuff without them.” Matty Bayley told us he has two pilot vehicles for their own operations.
“I refuse to send them out doing other jobs as it’s not worth it,” he writes.
HOT WEB TOPICS
“I always promised the mrs and kids that when it gets too hard and I’m getting too stressed, then that’s it, I’ve had enough.
It’s only been in recent times that Collins says that a collaboration of a “few things” has made him re-eval uate his life and where he was heading while doing local subbing for several steel com panies.He admits the price of diesel along with the loss of the fuel tax credits has had a huge impact on his decision to walk away. But Collins also says it got to a point where he no longer felt safe on the road. “I don’t understand how [some of] these guys are get ting their licence,” said Col lins.“They don’t understand the machines they are driv ing, that they kill people. They seem to think it’s all a big“Ijoke.”don’t understand how it’s all come to this. It’s not a safe job at all at the moment. It just seems to be getting worse every day.” Collins said the clincher for him came for him just three weeks before he called it quits when he was almost squashed by an impatient driver while unloading. “Trying to fit his rigid into a gap, he just about squashed me between my trailer and his “Thattruck. was about the last straw. I said to the mrs, I’m f**k’n over it. There’s plenty of other shit, it’s just every thing.“Back in the day it was good, blokes used to stop and help. Now you’ll break down on the side of the highway and blokes will just blast past you at 100. They don’t even take a second look. “You could be on the side of the road having a heart at tack and be stuck there for a day before anyone stopped.” Collins, who has been driving since he was 18 after being inspired to follow his truckie father into the indus try, says he’d like to see an overhaul of the licensing sys tem and more investment in training.“Notjust a ticket, and here you go, jump in this machine and go. A bit more like an ap prenticeship, so you earn your stripes and work your way up. “I was lucky that I was born into transport, but I think there’s better ways we can educate people on how the game Collinsworks.”sayshe’ll still jump behind the wheel and “have a steer”. But he’ll wait until he gets the caravan over to WA where it’s a bit safer. “Like I said to the old man, I still love trucks, it’s in my blood. I’ll miss it every day, it’s what we do. “It’s just the way it all is now. It’s just too hard.
“Now I’m doing the right thing by them and taking them around Australia and putting some time back into them.”
‘Every day it just gets worse and worse’: Grant Baines
Tim Collins, pictured above, has sold up his K100 and trailer and is now spending a year on the road with his family.
10 FEATURE FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 02 2022 BIGRIGS.COM.AU
Former Newcastle operator Grant Baines would like to help the industry find answers.
‘I don’t feel safe driving anymore’: Tim Collins Alcoa® Ultra ONE® 22.5” x 8.25” Wheel CALL 1800 955 191 TO TALK TO A WHEEL SPECIALIST TODAY. The Champion!LightweightNew • Better Fuel Efficiency • Easier Maintenance* • More Payload • Lower Owner-Operator Costs • Now Standard Fitment^ * New Hub Bore Technology reduces hub-to-wheel contact ^ 10-285 US Fitment ultraone.com.au We talk to three more experienced truckies about why they’ve called it quits.
AT just 61, former Newcastle operator Grant Baines would love to come back into the industry he loves and spent most of his working life in. When he reluctantly closed the doors at Diamond Express Logistics in 2018 due to issues finding the right people to run the business while he re covered from a work-related injury, he’d never been busier carting general freight all the way up the North Coast of NSW.But Baines says the pain he experienced in his long rehab is nothing like what the guys are experiencing on the road today.“We had a fuel bill back then of $65-70,000 a month. I couldn’t imagine paying $140-150,000 a month in fuel,” said Baines, who had up to 25 trucks running at any oneBainestime. says there’s now also too much red tape to entice him back, from on-site ac creditation to mountains of paperwork for every piece of work done on a truck. While behind the wheel, he’s almost lost count of the number of times he just copped a fine and “got on with it”, even though he knew he wasn’t in the wrong. Adding salt into the wounds for Baines is the poor state of the roads. “We pay out big money to those companies that do the asphalt and road mainte nance. I’m sure the quality of their work would be improved dramatically if they had to give a six-month warranty on the roads, but they don’t care. “Look, I’ve still got trucks and deep down I’d really love to come back but I shake my head – every day it gets worse andIfworse.”thereis a way out of the mire, Baines says the govern ments, both at a state and federal level, have to be more responsible.“Ifyougo on to a private property, that company can get a fine for not having a safe workplace. When are the governments going to add up the facts that they provide the roads, they charge us to drive on the roads, but their roads are what do most of the dam age to trucks, and they have no Bainesresponsibility.”saysone of his big gest pet hates is also the fact drivers can go from a HR to a B-double licence by paying $1300-1400.“Youshould have to spend at least 12 months of driving a heavy combination before you should be able to get a B-double licence. “I’ve always said that I would be prepared to sit on a on a panel and talk to people about how to rectify it [the in dustry’s issues], because there’s got to be a way. “But it takes two parties to work at that, and both parties have got to accept change.”
BY the time you read this, former Adelaide-based truck ie Tim Collins, 42, and his young family will be well down the road in their new Nissan Patrol with their car avan in tow for the next 12 months.Collins reluctantly sold up his K100 and trailer, and walked away from his freight transport business, STC Haulage, last month (August) after 24 mostly memorable years behind the wheel.
FEATURE 11BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 02 2022
‘Today it’s all just rip, tear and roar’: Eric Rossmuller VICTORIA (03)DERRIMUT83316128 NSW WETHERILL PARK (02) 9757 4944 QLD (07)SALISBURY32751011 krueger.com.au/careersCONTACTUSTODAY GREAT PEOPLE, GREAT CULTURE, GREAT OUTCOMES We are seeking motivated and experienced people to fill the following roles at our sites in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. Roles available in day and afternoon shift. • Boilermakers and Welders • Spray Painters • Mechanics / Technicians • Forklift Operators/Store person • Assemblers Apprentices and trainees in the above roles also welcome in our award winning apprentice program. We are also seeking motivated and experienced people to fill the following roles: • Senior Purchasing Buyer based in Truganina, VIC • Business Development Manager NSW – Parts and Service • Spare Parts Interpreter based in Truganina Expressions of interest for roles may be sent to recruitment_@krueger.com.au JOB OPPORTUNITIES
QUEENSLAND truckie Eric Rossmuller, 55, prides himself on having learnt the art of load restraint and tarp ing from the generation that came before him. He’d respectfully hang on their every word, fine-tun ing what he learnt during more than 35 years behind the wheel, either as an own er-operator, or more recently working grain around the Inglewood region where he nowTherelives. was nothing that gave him more job satisfac tion than to see a properly constrained load. That ‘old school’ way of learning the ropes paid off in a myriad of ways for Rossmuller in cluding a stint running three trucks of his own. So, when one much younger driver recently took offence to Rossmuller try ing to pass on some of that same knowledge, he admits it stuck in his craw, and he just couldn’t shake it. Rossmuller says he’s now walking away because the industry is now full of “five-minute wonders”, who are 25 years-old but strut around like they have 30-years’ of experience. “I tried to explain the cor rect way to load, and was told that’s the way we do it, and if you don’t like it, go back working with the old farts that you used to,” said the despairing veteran, who is taking a less demanding job mowing for the local council when a lingering shoulder in jury finally heals. “You can’t tell them any thing; they know everything. Standards are slipping, and sometimes I don’t think there are any standards at all. “How to load is the back bone to the whole job, but today I find it’s all rip, tear and“Withroar. some of the loads I’ve seen, you wouldn’t want to go slam on the brakes and go up the back end of some one because it’ll go straight through the Rossmullercab.”says you only have to look at the grain sector to see where it’s going wrong.“There’s a lot of nice trucks getting around a lot of young blokes in them. They’re all in road trains, AB triples, and what-not, and these blokes are coming passed you at $1.05 and $1.15 off the hills, and they’re all kids “You can see now why they’re going, ‘right, major blitz’. That’s why we’re being so heavily policed, because of these“Theyahoos.regulations have gone over the top, literally be cause of what they’re seeing. “It’s getting out of hand, and it’s actually gotten worse.”Sohow do we fix it? Education, obviously, said Rossmuller, but he also de spairs that it’s got to the point where it’s beyond that now. “Regulating it the way it is, well, it’s inevitable, isn’t it; they’ve got to try and stop it. “But I also think the own ers of transport companies have to have a bit more put on to them to train their drivers.“Ithink the older drivers [should have more say], I think there really should be a bit more of where we do stand back and say, ‘No, this is how you do it. This is how we get to Melbourne, and this is how we do it carefully, and“Itproperly.should be back to the old days with that educa tion. Now it’s just a case of if you’ve got an MC licence and a pulse, you’re in a truck and you’re gone, and it’s wrong. “There’s no training, and training is a huge thing, but as a former owner-operator myself who employed peo ple I also know it’s the most expensive part of your busi ness.“Training someone to do what your requirements are is costly, and have you got the right person?
Eric Rossmuller, inset, is reluctantly calling it quits because he says standards have slipped.
At just 20
trains – running
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 02 2022 BIGRIGS.COM.AU Centramaticexplained TheCentramaticon-board balancingsystemisapatented harmonicdevice.Thebalanceruses centrifugalforceand to automaticallydistributebalancing mediapreciselywhereneededto removeimbalance. Thebalancerconsistsofamounting plateandcirculartube,withsmall Durametalspheresanddamping makingupthebalancingmedia. MOUNTING PLATE OUT-OF-BALANCEPOINT DURAMETALSPHERES INDAMPINGFLUID CIRCULARTUBENeverbalanceyourwheelsagain! Automaticallybalancesyourwheelswhileyoudrive Unbalancedwheel Balancingweights moveautomatically oppositeout-ofbalancepointwhile balancingthewheel. Balancedwheel Evenlydistributed spheresshowan alreadybalanced wheel. • Increasetyrelifeupto35%+ • Reducevibration • Reducetyrecuppingwear • Smootherride • Tyresruncooler:5-10% • Extendsuspensionlife • Environmentallyfriendly Centramaticbalancersareavailablefor US,EuropeanandlargeJapanesetrucks 1300822765 www.centramatic.com.au ScantheQRcodewith yoursmartphonereader andvisitourwebsite
Fred is super proud of Jake. “He’s only 20 and he can fix almost anything – and we get along well,” he said.
is already living his dream of pulling
“I’ve been in trucks since I can remember and the passion has just grown from there. It’s definitely in the blood, which is why I decided to become a truck driver. I just never thought I’d be pulling triples to Darwin at myFred,age.” 63, comes from a big family of truckies – his moth er, uncles, brothers and cous ins were truck drivers too. “I actually have 18 uncles that drive trucks as well,” said Fred. “I started out in a Road Com mander, driving trucks at 17 in Melbourne doing local. I bought a truck and did that for a couple of years, then bought another truck and did inter state for about 15 years. I had two trucks at that point and my brother drove the other one,” he continued.“Jakewas in the truck with me a lot growing up, but I sold the trucks while he was at school and became a roofer. I stepped away from trucking for 10-12 years so I could get a job where I could be there for him. But I re ally did miss it – once it’ in your blood, you’ve got no chance. “Every now and then I’d do a Friday night changeover to Syd ney to help a mate out and Jake would come for a drive. Then on the school holidays I’d orga nise for Jake to get some prac tice driving road trains.” And those memories grow ing up are something that has really stuck with Jake. “Dad’s cousin in Atherton had a trans port company and we used to go there and do road trains to Brisbane for him. I would have been about 12 and that’s when I started getting more involved in driving the trucks and prac ticing backing up the trailers,” JakeJakeexplained.grewup quite literally surrounded by truck drivers. On his mother’s side, his un cle and grandfather were truck drivers too. Eager to get his start behind the wheel, Jake got each of his truck licences as soon as he legally could, obtaining his MC in October last year. “Ever since then I’ve been doing twoup with dad,” he said, adding that doing so has opened up so much more opportunity in his career.“It’s hard to get a job like this when you’re under 25 and hav en’t had your MC for two years, but doing two-up has made it a lot easier. With Dad doing this for over four decades, I think it keeps the insurance companies happier too,” added Jake. “There’s definitely been some employers that are very apprehensive about my age, but I’ve never had a problem with any of the other drivers I’ve met. They’re all really supportive and happy to see a young bloke out there giving it a go.” And as for Fred, well he couldn’t be any prouder of his son. “It’s absolutely great to be able to do this with Jake, I’m so proud of him. He’s fairly confi dent and smart, and he knows how to drive. He’s been driving road trains since before he drove cars. He’s only 20 and he can fix almost anything – and we get along well,” he said. Continued page 14They started doing two-up with Shaw’s Darwin Transport last year. Trucking is certainly in the blood for Fred and Jake Hearn.
young gun
Dynamic father and son two-up duo years of age, Jake Hearn triple road two-up his father Fred Hearn, 63.
with
12 COVER STORY BY DANIELLE GULLACI FROM behind the wheel of a 2019 Kenworth T909, the father and son team do the 3500-kilometre trip from Bris bane to Darwin each week for Shaw’s Darwin Transport. “The industry is definite ly not easy to get into at such a young age but with being taught by my father who has been in the industry for 45 years, it definitely helped,” ex plained Jake, 20.
Photos: Gotcha By Karl Photography Jake was already honing his truck skills by the time he was 12.
PhotographyKarlByGotchacredit:Photo
SUPER SEPTEMBER MASSIVE AUCTIONS rbauction.com.au | ironplanet.com.au Call 1300.139.344 to add your machinery to Ritchie Bros. Super September sales.
From page 12 THROUGHOUT his career, Fred had worked predom inantly as an owner driver, and Jake was on a similar path. After completing his schooling and studying engi neering, Jake bought his own truck. But as Fred explained, “We were using it to run to Perth and then there was a problem with the truck, so Jake brought it to a mechanic in Rocklea and while it was there the repairer went under water and it got stuck in the floods. So that was a bit of a setback.” Jake and Fred started working for Blenners Trans port in December, running Brisbane to Perth. “Going from Port Augusta to Norse man across the Nullarbor was definitely the best bit of road in the whole 11,000-ki lometre trip we used to go on, especially from the Nul larbor to the border, because when you’re driving along that road you just look out and can see the ocean right there,” said Jake. They finished up at Blen ners in July and took on the position at Shaw’s Darwin. On their approximately 45hour drive, they usually carry chiller goods up and produce on the return leg. “Once the mangoes start in Katherine, it’ll be lots of full loads of mangoes too,” Jake added. Though there’s one partic ular stretch that he says can test the patience. “From here at the top of the Toowoomba bypass all the way to Roma has to be one of the worst roads that we drive on. It is a disgrace and there’s that many trucks travelling on it every day – it’s just horrible. And it’s not getting any better, they’ll fix a bit and it’s good and well for a few months and then it’s back to being the way it was,” saidDespiteJake. being so young, Jake’s already very well trav elled in the truck. “The only places I haven’t really been are Darwin down to Ade laide, and Darwin to Perth around the coast. Those runs are definitely on the bucket list!” he said. As Jake and Fred have such a great relationship, being to gether so much of the time hasn’t been an issue at all. “Shaw’s were telling us they’ve had heaps of two-up teams coming in, even good mates and then they do three trips, and they’re always bluing. It makes it easier because we get along so well. One is always sleeping when the other one is driving,” explained Jake. “As long as Dad can still drive, we’ll keep doing twoup. This is good for him too as he’s not a spring chicken anymore, so I can keep an eye on him and make sure he’s looking after himself. He’ll never stop driving until he re ally has to and I can definitely see myself doing two-up with him until that happens. Once he’s too old to be driving, it’s a career I want to continue to pursue.”Onthe contrary, Fred add ed with a laugh, “The only issue I have now is that Jake makes me eat all this healthy food when we’re on the road. But I guess he’s a lot smarter than me, you know!” For now, Jake says he’s lov ing every minute of the job. “I think the best thing is getting to see the country and going to different places and expe riencing so many different things.”
Sharing a bond like no other
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 02 2022 BIGRIGS.COM.AU DO YOU WANT TO SEE CHANGE The NRFA is truckies working for truckies, but we want those who will do more than say, “That’s not my problem” or “Let someone else fix it” If you don’t, who will? Will you do more than just join? Join the NRFA and let us help you
14 COVER STORY
Jake shared this great sunset shot he snapped during his travels.
Jake had tried his hand as an owner driver before turning to twoup work with Shaw’s. They take great pride in the 2019 Kenworth T909 they drive from Brisbane to Darwin each week. The pair come from a family of truckies – Fred has 18 uncles who drive trucks.
THE NEW MAN TRUCK GENERATION. Ready to join your pride SIMPLY MY TRUCK. The new MAN generation redefines trucking in the modern age. Elevating driver fit, efficiency and economy, MAN optimises profitable working time. To put it simply, when it comes to trucks, MAN is the only choice. MAN. Simply My Truck.
CHECK THE CATALOGUE PACCARPARTS.COM.AU/CATALOGUEONLINESEP-OCT 2022 DEALERS AUSTRALIA WIDE | Visit us paccarparts.com.au For more details, Freecall* 1800 PPARTS (772 787) 57 RebuildEngine Kit $7,000NON-MEMBERS$6,500MEMBERS 2153801 MX13 - Euro 5 SAVE$500MEMBERS FanElectronicClutch $1,433NON-MEMBERS$1,283MEMBERS 1916597 SAVE$150MEMBERS Fuel Pre Filter $137NON-MEMBERS$122MEMBERS 1433649separatorFuel-waterelement Centrifugal Oil Filter Element $41NON-MEMBERS$36MEMBERS 1922496 Oil ElementFilter $31NON-MEMBERS$26MEMBERS 1948921 Fuel ElementFilter MEMBERS FROM $46NON-MEMBERS$39.25FROM.25 1699168 $39.25 $46.25 DAF 1655115Installation $55.40 $65.40 InstallationKenworth 1699168 Belt Tensioner MEMBERS $340NON-MEMBERS$290FROMFROM 2163127 $318 $378 Suits 7PK Belt 1942517 $290 $340 Suits 9PK Belt 1942517 Poly-V-Belt $62NON-MEMBERS$57MEMBERS 1812162 $57 $62 7PK, suits alternator & compressor pulleys 1884148 $58 $63 9PK, suits coolant pump & fan drive pulleys 1884148
QUALITY PARTS | TECHNICAL EXPERTISE | EXTENSIVE DEALER NETWORK 57 FREECALL* 1800 PPARTS (772 787) ONE PHONE NUMBER TO CONNECT WITH 57 DEALERS AUSTRALIA WIDE SUPPORT.GENUINEPEOPLE.GENUINE Alternator $718NON-MEMBERS$638MEMBERS 1976291 $80MEMBERSSAVE Starter Motor $742NON-MEMBERS$662MEMBERS 2134698 $80MEMBERSSAVE Air CompressorConditioning $843NON-MEMBERS$763MEMBERS 2041760 $80MEMBERSSAVE Diesel Particulate Filter $1,924NON-MEMBERS$1,724MEMBERS One of the components that ensures DAF trucks meet stringent Euro 6 emissions regulations is the Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) in the Emission Aftertreatment System (EAS). This DPF keeps particulate matter within legal limits and ensures your DAF truck is running at optimum performance. The DAF Genuine DPF is a fully cleaned and remanufactured OE unit. DAF has launched a unique cleaning process that is only used by DAF and provides a DPF that is as good as new. It will not only last for the entire DAF recommended service interval but also provide certainty that your DAF truck remains compliant with Euro 6 emission regulations. 2192100R AVOID EXTRA COSTS! REPLACE IN TIME! CHOOSE DAF GENUINE! Air Dryer Element $77NON-MEMBERS$62MEMBERS.50.50 1925363 DAF CF & XF SAVE$15MEMBERS AdBlue Filter $158NON-MEMBERS$138MEMBERS 2122909 DAF CF & XF $20MEMBERSSAVE
Prices herein are recommended selling prices for both Privileges members and non-members, inclusive of GST. Recommended selling prices are a guide only and there is no obligation for Dealers to comply with these recommendations. Freight charges may apply. All items have been included in good faith on the basis that goods will be available at the time of sale. Prices and promotions are available at participating Dealers from 1 September 2022 to 31 October 2022 or while stocks last.
* Calls from Australian landlines are generally free of charge whilst calls from mobile phones are typically charged based on the rate determined by the caller’s mobile service provider. Please check with your mobile service provider for call rates. We are unfortunately experiencing shipping delays which means some products may not be in store on the advertised on-sale date. We are trying our best to limit these delays and at the time of publishing, advertised product sale dates are correct; however, they are subject to change due to factors outside our control.
BY JAMES GRAHAM
Wes Walker is in it for the long haul at the Gatton pads in Queensland.
WE RENT A FULL RANGE OF MODERN TRAILERS • ROAD TRAIN DOLLYS • DROP DECKS • EXTENDABLES OF BOTH • CURTAIN SIDERS • CONTAINER SKELS • B-DOUBLES • FLAT TOPS SHORT OR LONG TautlinersTERM Available NowSouthBrisbane DAVE: 0412 740 099 North Brisbane MATT: 0437 437 333 InsurancesBusinessDepot&DriversOwnerLiabilityFleetsCargo PuttingtheBrakes on... Tocontactourclosestbranch Brisbane • Mackay • Sydney Melbourne*RegionalVictoria 1800010599 ...HighPremiums&ProblemswithServiceandClaims orvisit www.tgib.com.au formoreinformationonhowwecanassistyou. T&G Insurance Brokers PTy LTd WeareGeneralInsuranceBrokersspecialiststothe Transport,EarthmovingandMachineryindustries. Wehavetheexperienceandknowledgetoensureyou gettherightcoverageandserviceattherightprice. TMR pays to have the toilets pumped out but it’s Walker who keeps them clean for drivers.The once in-demand plasterer suffered a brain aneurism that he wasn’t expected to survive.
TMR may have finally splashed out for the hireage of two portaloos at the Gatton pads, but it’s still Wes Walker who is paying to keep them smelling like roses. Each day Walker stops by with cleaners and sprays he buys himself, generously donating his time and diesel to get to and from the site. When Big Rigs asked TMR what it was doing to help on that front, and what the future plans were, we got the below emailed response from a pad,FacilityVehicle“The‘spokesperson’.GattonHeavyDecouplingisabreakdownnotareststop.The biohazard issues around installing permanent toilets remain. “The portable toilets are being provided and maintained by our local maintenance contractors. TMR is currently paying these costs. “The cleaning.providesschedulemaintenancecurrentlytwice-weeklyTheschedule is being monitored and will be revised if required.” Well, we don’t think that’s good enough, and have launched a GoFundMe page to help offset the costs for Walker while TMR gets its act together. Visit gofundme.com and search ‘Wes Walker’ to make your donation.
DISABILITY pensioner Wes Walker, 59, was never going to fade quietly into the back ground when his long fight for toilets at the Gatton pads in Queensland looked like it had reached a deadlock. The man whose 15-month campaign for truckies finally paid off with the recent arriv al of two portaloos on site has fought and won a host of per sonal battles for much of his adultJustlife.seven years ago the once in-demand plasterer suf fered a brain aneurism that he wasn’t expected to survive. Walker had collapsed while wandering to the toilet in the early hours of the morning and woke up six weeks later in the“Normallyhospital. they go through the groin, but they had to cut my skull open to get to it,” said“TheyWalker.wanted to do a lot or rehab afterwards, but I said there are lot more worse off than me, just let me go home.”
‘Truckies are the heroes and legends, not me’
18 FEATURE FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 02 2022 BIGRIGS.COM.AU
The only physical trace of his near-death experience is a loss of smell and an irritable bowel that has Walker hyper vigilant of what he eats for fear of being caught short while out and Today,about.hismain physical is sues arise from an unrelated es sential tremor, a nervous system disorder that manifests itself for Walker with involuntary shak ing in his right hand. The condition can also af fect his balance at times forcing Walker to rely on a cane when the condition deteriorates. “But it’s not a big deal. I’m happy. There is worse off peo ple in this world than me.” Typical Walker – he picks himself up and dusts himself off after setbacks that would derail mostAfterothers.hiswife of 29 years left him without warning one day, he says his thriving plastering business collapsed because of an irrecoverable financial hit, and he suffered debilitating depres sion. A few years earlier he also had to make the heartbreaking call to tell doctors to turn off the life support system for his brother Andrew after the Coffs Harbour trucking company owner was coward-punched at a Christmas function. But the father-of-three says his biggest life-changing moment came years earlier when he lost a daughter at birth. Walker said that tragic mo ment set him on the course he is on today, fighting for the un derdog and helping others. “When we lost our little one, I turned my life around from being a rebel and I just help all the time,” said Walker who thinks nothing of giving stranded truckies a bed for the night in the caravan he calls home.Walker says the Gatton issue came into his crosshairs because of his many mates who are truckies but does now admit to a closer industry link than he’s spoken about before. “I tell a little bit of a furfie about not being a truck driver. At 18 I was driving an Isuzu 6-tonne up and down the high way distributing our own prod uct [ornamental cornices],” said Walker.“My father only wanted me to work 25 hours a day, eight days a week. I did it for a bit under two years, put the keys on the fridge and drove off into the sunset and talked to him six months later. “He was going to kill me. Lindsay Brothers back in the day thought we had six trucks. “I’d go from Coffs Harbour as far as Batemans Bay, out as far as Dubbo and the Sunshine Coast.”Sonow he’s got the porta loos on site, will truckies see less of his signature black Chevy Silverado at the pads? Not a chance, promises Walker, who isn’t letting up on the Department of Transport and Main Roads until there is a more permanent two toilet/two shower unit in place. He’s already picked out the spot, with a power box in place, and now is busy getting quotes that he believes will be the most cost-effective solution anyone can“Organisationsfind. and the gov ernment have got to be held ac countable for the way they treat these drivers, and companies, and I have not seen anyone held accountable, would that be fair? Just don’t call Walker a hero while he’s at it. “’Thanks mate’, that’s all I want. The truckies are the leg ends and the heroes, not me. I didn’t do it for my own self-esteem.“Because I’m on a pension, I’m giving back to the people who pay me, and that’s the tax payer.”
Help Walker keep the toilets clean
CATALOGUESEP–OCTOUTNOW! trpparts.com.au/catalogues FREECALL* 1800 TRPART (877 278) ONE PHONE NUMBER TO CONNECT WITH 57 DEALERS AUSTRALIA WIDE Prices herein are recommended selling prices for both Privileges members and non-members, inclusive of GST. Recommended selling prices are a guide only and there is no obligation for Dealers to comply with these recommendations. Freight charges may apply. All items have been included in good faith on the basis that goods will be available at the time of sale. Prices and promotions are available at participating Dealers from 1 September 2022 to 31 October 2022 or while stocks last. * Calls from Australian landlines are generally free of charge whilst calls from mobile phones are typically charged based on the rate determined by the caller’s mobile service provider. Please check with your mobile service provider for call rates. We are unfortunately experiencing shipping delays which means some products may not be in store on the advertised on-sale date. We are trying our best to limit these delays and at the time of publishing, advertised product sale dates are correct; however, they are subject to change due to factors outside our control. SEE IN STORE FOR COMPLETE RANGE SUPPORT.GENUINEPEOPLE.GENUINE CHARGETRP® $FROMCOOLERSAIR1,895 Unique silicone grommet system provides leak free operation & extended service life Greater vibration & load handling, eliminating premature failures Direct replacement for original part Australian design & manufactured for Australian conditions TRP1504392-1 $1,895 Suits Kenworth T350/T359/ T401/T601 T404/T604/T650SuitsTRP2306049-1Kenworth TRP1615726-1 $2,484 Suits Kenworth K108 SuitsTRP1604892-1Kenworth K100/K104 TRP1706053-1 $2,745 Suits Kenworth T659/T904/T908/T909T608/T609/T650/T658/T403/T408/T409/T409SAR/C508/C509/ TRP1405115-1 $2,595 Suits T659/T909/C509T409/T409SAR/T904/T950/C500/Kenworth For more information, visit trpparts.com.au/fab/charge-air-coolers 2 YEAR WARRANTY DIRECT REPLACEMENT OF ORIGINAL PART NEW MADEAUS RANGEVIBRATIONANTI-TRP® ENGINE $NON-MEMBERS$MEMBERSMOUNTFROM32.95FROM37.95 Suits AV018TRPKenworth$32.95 $37.95 Engine Mount Front AV023TRP $50.95 $55.95 Engine Mount Kit - Front AV024TRP $102 $112 Engine Mount Kit - Rear AV018TRP AV023TRP AV024TRP TRAILER SUSPENSION MEMBERS FROM $NON-MEMBERS$20.95FROM25.95 AV004TRP $105 $115 Pivot bush - suits SAF AV006TRP $113 $123 Beam end bush - suits Neway AV008TRP $20.95 $25.95 Spring eye bush - suits BPW AV010TRP $19.95 Torque rod bush - suits WesternAV008TRPAV004TRPStar/FreightlinerAV006TRPAV010TRP CABIN & HOOD $NON-MEMBERS$MEMBERS6.9511.95 Suits AV012TRPKenworth$27.95 $32.95 Cabin & hood mount AV013TRP $6.95 $11.95 Exhaust support bush AV014TRP $40.95 $45.95 Hood latch kit - right & left AV015TRP $32.95 $37.95 Shifter AV016TRPboot $27.95 $32.95 Shifter AV017TRPboot $86.95 $96.95 Hood glide - right & left AV014TRP AV012TRP AV013TRPAV015TRP AV016TRPAV017TRP $NON-MEMBERS$ABSORBERSSHOCKMEMBERSFROM92FROM107 SA012TRP $92 $107 Suits SA001TRPAirlightHAS400Hendrickson&HAS460,2/HDSeries $107 $122 Suits Kenworth Front, Parabolic SA018TRPSpring$107 $122 Suits Kenworth Airglide 9” Ride Height $15MEMBERSSAVE SA004TRP $109 $124 Suits Neway Suspensions - AD246-10”
ADDITIONAL safety, better fuel efficiency and more pow er are some of the gains to be found in the latest evolution of the UD Quon. A raft of engine upgrades and the addition of more ac tive safety features bring even more performance, efficiency andThevalue.11-litre driveline sees power ratings up at the low er end of the scale with the 390hp rating now up to 400 and the 420hp variant upgrad ed to The430.460hp variant remains however torque is up across the range, 2250Nm for the 460, and 2000Nm for the 400 and 430hp Improvementsvariants.are aimed at minimising driveline drag, and as a result, achieve better fuel efficiency. Improved pis ton and cylinder design, a new turbocharger, and lower offset, low drag hypoid drive axles have all combined to provide a significant reduction in fuel consumption.TheEuro6 emissions com pliant 11-litre engine family now also benefits from the option of extended oil drain intervals to reduce workshop visits.The 11-litre Quon range also features the class leading 12-speed ESCOT Automated Manual Transmission while 8 litre Quon variants have the choice of ESCOT or a 6-speed Allison automatic transmis sion.One of the new active safety features added across the Quon 8-litre and 11-litre range include the new ‘Stop and Driver Initiate Go’ func tion, that makes the vehicle safer and easier to drive by au tomatically controlling speed and reducing driver stress and fatigue.Other improvements in clude a revised Traffic Eye Brake System and Lane Depar ture Warning System (LDWS) that triggers an alarm to alert drivers when they uninten tionally leave the lane and UD Stability Control that auto matically detects and adjusts engine output and braking to retain truck stability.
Heavy-hitting UD Quon flexes muscles in new range
FamilyMack.owned
“Many of our vehicles are operating in the urban en vironment for their entire working day, navigating city streets, laneways and construc tion sites right in the midst of pedestrians, cyclists and other vulnerable road users,” said Pulitano.TheUD Quon is available in 4×2, 6×2, 6×4 and 8×4 con figurations across a wide range of wheelbases to suit rigid and prime mover applications.
WITH a history that spans nearly nine decades, Richers Transport has come a long way from its humble beginnings –and now it celebrates a mile stone, with the delivery of its 200th and operat ed, with the third generation now working at the company, the Queensland based opera tion started out with just one Model T Ford in 1935. It now operates a fleet that consists of over 350 trucks and trailers.Among those is the first Mack Anthem to hit the road in Australia, which was deliv ered last year. The company’s 200th Mack also wears the Anthem badge. “We choose to go with Mack for drivability, they’re great for the drivers, for fuel economy, and are equipped with a good safety package. They’re great from a mainte nance perspective as well,” said Tom Richers, operations man ager at Richers Transport. “The service and back up we get from the dealer network is fantastic.”Richers Transport’s ser vices cover the entire eastern seaboard, from Cairns to Ad elaide, transporting groceries, particle board, alcohol and general freight. “We often talk about du rability when we talk about Mack trucks. However, dura bility of customer relationships such as the one forged between Mack and the Richers family over many decades is perhaps even more important,” added Tom Chapman, vice president at Mack Trucks “ProductivityAustralia.andefficiency are vital in a modern transport operation. But an enduring partnership based on trust in both people and product doesn’t just happen overnight, it’s built over many years. “I’m very proud to mark this milestone event with the Richers family, it’s a testament to the strength of both brands: Richers transport and Mack Trucks.”The distinctive green and white Richers livery of the milestone Anthem is subtly complemented by custom stainless-steel work and sign writing. The MP8 powered Mack Anthem also features a walk-through 36-inch sleeper cab, and an integrated Bendix Wingman Fusion safety system as standard equipment.
The new Quon comes in a wide range of wheelbases. The new MP8 powered Mack Anthem. Managing director of Richers Transport, Graham Richers, is handed the keys to the milestone truck by Tom Chapman, vice president, Mack Trucks Australia.
20 NEWS FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 02 2022 BIGRIGS.COM.AU
“The evolution of the Quon continues,” said Lauren Pulitano, vice president UD Trucks“ThisAustralia.latestiteration of our best-selling vehicle proves that performance and driver com fort don’t have to compromise safety and efficiency.”
The Quon already exceeds Euro 6 emissions standards and now brings significant fuel efficiency gains too.
All Quon models will now also hit the road equipped with UD’s BSIS (Blind Spot Information System). The BSIS radar system monitors the left-hand side of the truck and can detect pedestrians and cyclists as well as vehicles. A 2-stage warning system moves from a visual A-pillar warning light to an audio alarm and an alert on the instrument panel.
Richers Transport takes delivery of milestone Mack
Going the Extra Mile To find out more, contact your UD Trucks dealer on 1300 BUY A UD or visit udtrucks.com/australia Follow us on Into the city, out of the ordinary. Proudly part of Volvo Group Australia THE TRUCK AUSTRALIA TRUSTS
To perform in the city takes a special kind of truck. One that goes beyondthe expected and leaves convention far behind. With its smart, intelligent design, the UD Croner is right at home in the CBD. Itstight turning circle, superior manoeuvrability and commanding visibility are alldesigned for comfortable, efficient city driving. Its high torque and money savingfuel efficiency ensures peak performance, and its proven uptime and reliabilitygetwace of mind, it’s all backed up by one of Australia’s best dealer networks. For over 85 years, UD Trucks have delivered ultimate dependability.No wonder this is the truck Australia trusts.
Terry Bunhu has come a long way since starting up his transport business in WA.
22 FEATURE FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 02 2022 BIGRIGS.COM.AU
I DECIDED I WANTED TO EXPLORE A BUSINESS VENTURE IN AUSTRALIA AND MOVED OVER HERE THE FOLLOWING YEAR. BECAUSE I DIDN’T HAVE THE CAPACITY WHEN I FIRST ARRIVED, I HAD TO START FROM ROCK BOTTOM.”
“I grew up in a transport business. My family started in general freight and also got into agriculture too,” he said. Back in Zimbabwe, Bunhu had already experienced suc cess in the industry, starting his own transport business, which he built up to a fleet of 26 Histrucks.sister had come to Aus tralia to study in 2007 and when Bunhu came to visit her in 2014, his path started to gravitate in a new direction.
As well raising awareness for breast cancer research, the pink set-up also aims to encourage more women into the industry.
TERRY BUNHU
There are six sets of quad side tippers used for iron ore haul age, four B-double sets used for grain cartage and a quad axle low loader for transport ingThemachinery.company employs 16 drivers, and the trucks all op erate 24/7. It’s six days on and then on the seventh day each truck is thoroughly serviced. “We’ll have a driver go to the mine to pick up the iron ore and then come back, which takes about 10-11 hours. Then the next driver meets them at the bowser, fills up and sets off to the port which is about a 12 hour round trip,” said Banhu. “We operate in the MidWest region, the Pilbara and the southern side of Perth. In the Mid-West, we cart iron ore from the mines to Gerald ton port; from the Pilbara the iron ore is transported from Nanutarra to the Utah port; and from Perth we cart grain,” Bunhu explained. But it’s the most recent de livery, a hot pink T909 and quad set of side tippers from Jamieson Trailers that arrived in May, that has really cap tured the attention of many. The inspiration behind the vibrant set-up is threefold. In addition to raising awareness for breast cancer research, Bunhu is hoping to help en courage more women into truck driving as the industry grapples with current driver shortages, and has also dedi cated the truck to his mother Gogo Bunhu, who he de scribes as his biggest motiva tion.That truck is used for the Nanuttara to Utah Port run, which is about 620 kilometres each“We’reway. having issues getting people to join this industry, so we’re trying to help encourage more women to come into the industry to help fill that gap. At the same time, it’s also in support of breast can cer awareness. I have a cousin who passed away two years ago from breast cancer,” Banhu ex plained.Hehas named the truck ‘Vachihera’. “In Africa, we have something called a totem, which is a tribe. My mother’s totem is Vachihera. I dedicated this truck to her because she has been my biggest motiva tor.”The pink T909 quad road train set-up has a Gross Com bination Mass (GCM) of 171 tonne and is capable of achiev ing payloads of 118 tonne. Bunhu revealed that he has another six similar combina tions on order, and they’ll all be pink too. These ones will be ultra quads, bringing the GCM up to 220 tonne and the payloads up to a whopping 150Thistonne.time he’s gone for four Kenworth T909s and two 700hp Volvos. “I did that be cause of availability,” he said. They’ll all be paired with side tippers from Bruce Rock En gineering, with the first com plete sets due to arrive in early December.”
Bunhu’s one-year-old daughter Zoey was all smiles when she saw the new pink truck.
Bunhu got hold of his first quad set two years ago. “It was a wreck and I had to build it back up, bit by bit,” he said. In January this year, he purchased his first brand new truck. The personalised plate translates to ‘under-rated’.
WHEN Terry Bunhu, 38, moved to WA from his native Zimbabwe in Africa, his plan was to follow in his father’s footsteps and continue in the transport game.
Having grown up in a trucking family, Terry Bunhu had high hopes of continuing along that path when he moved down under, but he had to start from scratch.
BY DANIELLE GULLACI
“I decided I wanted to ex plore a business venture in Australia and moved over here the following year. Because I didn’t have the capacity when I first arrived, I had to start from rock bottom.” A qualified boiler maker, Bunhu also had trade expe rience. Initially, he secured a job as a brickie’s labourer. That only lasted about six weeks. Then he began working as a construction labourer for roughly six months, until he started his own renovation la bouringThoughbusiness.that entire time, Bunhu had his sights set on returning to the transport in dustry.He progressed into earth works and demolition as a sole trader in 2017, trading under the name All Good Demo and Earthworks.Thenin2020, while work ing on a large civil job in the town of Marble Bar in the Pilbara, he was offered the opportunity to sub-contract for Campbell Transport, trans porting iron ore. From that, Bunhu Mining Marine & Civ il Construction was born. And so he purchased his first truck – a far cry from the new trucks that have joined the fleet in recent times. “I bought my first quad set two years ago. The Mack was an ex-Qube truck that I got as a wreck and I started building it up, bit by bit. I hired the side tipper trailers from a farming couple in Merredin and even tually ended up buying them.
I’m grateful that Glenn and Sherrie gave me the opportu nity to hire their gear, after I was turned away by the big hire companies,” Bunhu ex plained.“Itwas a difficult one be cause no one in the finance in dustry was confident with giv ing me a half a million dollar loan to purchase a new prime mover.”Nevertheless, through sheer grit and determination, he built up his fleet, purchas ing numerous second-hand trucks. Then in January 2022, he proudly got the keys to his first brand new set of wheels, a customised 8x6 Mack Titan Gold Bulldog, purchased from Truck Centre WA. Bunhu now runs a fleet of six prime movers – a mixture of Kenworths, Volvos and Macks – and over 30 trailers.
Pilbara operator celebrates success with pink road train
THE OTHERFRONTISPERFORMANCEQUALITYCOMFORT,ANDWAYOUTINOFANYTRUCK” TO FIND OUT MORE PLEASE CALL 1800 033 557 The Cascadia represents a new era for Freightliner. Engineered and built to Daimler Truck’s world-leading manufacturing standards with unprecedented levels of research, development and real-world testing, this is a Freightliner like none before it. With superior comfort, fewer maintenance intervals, better fuel efficiency and improved ride quality,* the Cascadia is a truck you can rely on for optimal performance day in day out, in any application or condition. QUALITY TO THE CORE CASCADIA 126 60” XT *Compared to previous Freightliner models. MARK RIX GRAIN AND FERTILISER HAULER
BY DAVID VILE
24 EVENT PREVIEW FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 02 2022 BIGRIGS.COM.AU
IT would be fair to say that most things truck-show relat ed, over the last couple of years have been somewhat thrown into chaos with Covid. However, with more shows and rallies getting up and go ing again, once again all roads in the New South Wales Riv erina will lead to Urana as the town hosts its annual vintage rally on the third weekend in October.Having been a regular fixture on the heritage truck show calendar for over twenty years before going into recess during 2020 and 2021, the Victoria Park complex in Ura na will again echo to the rum ble of trucks and machinery on Saturday, October 15, and Sunday, October 16, with the organising committee planning a range of activities across the two-day event. Geoffrey McDonnell is on the organising committee for the truck show and is looking forward to a healthy turn out of trucks whether they be modern or historic, with the event having in the past drawn exhibitors from as far afield as Melbourne, Sydney and right across south-eastern Australia.WithWhite and Interna tional having been the fea ture truck brand at the 2018 and 2019 events, this year it is the turn of all things Mer cedes-Benz.Having had a presence in Australia since 1958, the ‘three-pointed star’ has been a regular fixture on highways and back roads of Australia in a wide range of transport ap plications earning a solid rep utation along the way. Over the years the Uni mog off road truck has been a popular choice of the Aus tralian Defence Force with over 2000 units placed into service, whilst in terms of onroad application the Mercedes Benz brand earned its stripes in the late 1960’s and 1970s with the short-bonnet 1418 model.Placed across a wide range of haulage applications from highway running to off-road and outback road train work, the 1418 and later 1419 and 1923 models ensured the brand had a solid future in Australia.This then extended through to the cabover mod els such as the 2224 and 2632 in the 1980s, and the popular Actros range which has been the flagship of the Mercedes Benz model range for the last twoNeedlessdecades.to say, many old er Mercedes trucks are still out earning a dollar as a ‘farm truck’ or as a restored project and Geoffrey McDonnell is throwing out an invitation for all Mercedes Benz trucks old and new to make the trip to Urana, with the 1418 a focus. “All other trucks are most welcome, but we are hoping to get as many 1418s as we can there on display,” he said.
The event stretches across both days with the main show day and judging for trucks across a number of various categories taking place on the Sunday.Camping with toilets and showers is available for exhib itors and a range of market stalls and food options includ ing breakfast will be available for show goers. Families are also well catered for with a range of free children’s activi ties including jumping castles, face painting and show bags available.With Urana within close proximity to major transport routes such as the Hume and Sturt Highways, getting there and back won’t be a problem and the October weather in the Riverina is always great so get along and check out all the action this year! Admission is a very reasonable $5 for adults with kids under 16 and exhib itorsFurtherfree. information can be obtained from the Ura na Vintage Machinery Club Facebook Page or Geoffrey McDonnell who can be con tacted on 0429 095 296. • For more great trucking events to add to your calen dar, turn to page 53.The organisers are looking for a big roll-up of Mercedes product in mid-October. The Urana Machinery Rally has been a popular event for exhibitors for over two decades.
ALL OTHER TRUCKS ARE MOST WELCOME, BUT WE ARE HOPING TO GET AS MANY 1418S AS WE CAN THERE ON DISPLAY.” GEOFFREY MCDONNELL All roads lead to the rally at Urana in the Riverina AUSSIE SIZZLER HOT WASH SPECIAL þ Top quality Aussie design þ Loads of protection þ Steel chassis þ 4 pole motor, slow speed pump þ Stainless steel frame option þ 1,800 psi, 240 volt, 10 amp þ Stainless steel cover Aussie Pumps CALL TODAY 02 8865 3500 ... Watch your rig come clean while grease melts away! aussiepumps.com.au80°C SAVE $500
Photos: David Vile
JOBCOMMANDDONERESPECTTHEFUSOSHOGUN510
A demanding business demands a powerful truck. And with 510hp at your command, there’s no ignoring the 13 Litre Shogun 510 – the most powerful Japanese HD truck in the land. Since power belongs in safe hands, every Shogun comes with the world-leading safety features you’d expect from the Daimler Truck group. Add the peace of mind of a 5yr/500,000km warranty and the only stops you’ll be making are the ones you want.
TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE FUSO SHOGUN 510 VISIT FUSO.COM.AU
TWO of the original trucks and a driver, now aged 86, that were involved in a mas sive oil rig move 60 years ago have taken part in a re-enact ment of the historic trip. Back in 1962, a convoy of trucks was used for the mammoth task of transport ing an oil rig approximately 1600 kilometres from Roma to Karumba, before it was put on a barge bound for Mornington Island.
“It took them just over five weeks to do it, as they got stuck and bogged between Cloncurry and Normanton for two weeks,” explained owner operator Keegan Mulligan, who is among the founding members of the Diamantina Heritage Truck & Machinery Museum in Winton,WesternQueensland.Oilfield Trans port, which was a division of Western Transport, was tasked with the move. Broth ers Cyril and Curly An derson started the business from humble beginnings in 1946, after returning from World War II. Their trans port business grew from just one truck carrying gen eral freight from Brisbane to Toowoomba, into one of the nation’s largest transport companies from the 1950s to 1970s.Cyril’s grandson Paul Barry was among those who took part in the re-en actment. As did former truckie Darrell Brown, 86, who drove one of the trucks during the rig shift. There were roughly 40 people on the recent voyage. Brown worked for West ern Transport for 17 years and had a long career as an interstate truck driver, only retiring from the job 12 years ago. “I drove a single drive B-model Mack. There were a couple of bogie drives on that trip too. There were 12 drivers on that trip, but I’m the only one left now,” Brown said. “I was a pretty skinny and scruffy bugger back then. We got terribly bogged up there, but we didn’t go too bad. There was bugger-all bitu men in those days. Through Augathella, there was a lot of dirt and when we made it to Cloncurry, there was a lot of rain so we got bogged and were stuck there for two weeks,” he recalled. Upon arriving at Karum ba, Brown’s truck was un loaded. “I didn’t go across on the barge. In those days the barge would run across a chain. The operator was on the bank watching from the other side, but when they gave the barge a bit of a shake, she took off and he had to jump into the river to swim after Throughoutit!” his career, Brown spent many weeks at a time away from home. But at the time of the oil rig move, it was the longest trip he had been on. “After that though, I was away for 12-14 weeks at a time sometimes. I even did a stint in Indonesia for 12 weeks on the rigs. I was just a young bloke try ing to make a quid.” Brown grew up on a dairy farm and has called Toowoomba home for well over 60 years. He left home at 16 and began working the wheat harvest, then moved onto farming before turning to trucks. “I got involved in trucks and stayed in trucks. I had a long career in trucking – it was a good one really,” he Aftersaid. his long stint at Western Transport, Brown went on to work for Neil Mansell Transport. During a week’s long service leave, he wanted to work. “I knew Neil Mansell, so he gave Historical pics of the trucks and people involved in the original oil rig move. Two B-Model Macks took part in the trip, a B61 (left) and a B615 (right), however only one made it the whole way.
History repeats 60 years injectronics.com.au | 1300 30 80 60 Caterpillar 257B Interlock Module CATERPILLARSOLUTIONSREPAIR & CASE REPAIR SOLUTIONS CATERPILLAR 3126 7.2L ECM ECM3126REPECMCATCHREP CASE CVT / CVX ECM ECMCASCV130REP CATERPILLAR C13 12.5L ECM ECMMX80CREPECM4HK1REP Injectronics Heavy Duty know how important it is to get your truck, tractor or machinery back to work as soon as possible, and the Caterpillar (CAT) 257 / 257B skid steer loader, is no different. A skid steer loader is a small-frame, engine-powered vehicle equipped with lift arms. These lift arms have a range of attachments to save labour and time. It runs a 3024C engine capable of producing a maximum of 57 horsepower. Injectronics have been able to identify some common faults with this equipment: • No parking light • Park brake light flashes quickly and won’t release • ECM can become stuck in interlocked position • Water ingress The park light relies on receiving a signal from the seat armrest to know it is in the down position and is part of the safety system inbuilt in this machine. When there is a failure in the system the machine becomes inoperable. Injectronics HD can offer a solution: Injectronics can now fully function test these ECMs and offer a repair of the customer’s unit. ECMCATC13REP CASE 4HK1X ECM CHALLENGERCATERPILLAR557.2L ECM CASE MX80C TRACTOR ECM
26 FEATURE FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 02 2022 BIGRIGS.COM.AU
me a week’s work, and then I ended up staying for 30 years, and then another 10 years doing casual work. I had a lot of years in truck ing but I worked for the best people in the business in the form of the Anderson and Mansell families. You just couldn’t get any better.” Brown was surprised on hearing there was a re-enact ment of the trip planned but was glad he had the oppor tunity to come along for the ride.“I was just a bloke at work and we were out there doing our job – and we busted our gut. I never thought 60 years down the track that some one would want to know what I did,” he said. “I really enjoyed the trip and Keegan did a bloody good job of taking the truck up,” he said. The re-enactment was organised by Graham McVean. He and his father worked for Western Trans port and he now owns the Western Transport exhibit in the Queensland Trans port Museum at Gatton. On display are several trucks, a range of memorabilia, and name plaques recognising pastTheemployees.re-enactment convoy set off after a gathering at the Roma Gun Club, where entertainment was provided by Australian country music singer Chad Morgan OAM, now aged Mulligan86. had the hon ours of driving the West ern Oilfield Transport B61, six-cylinder Mack. This was one of two original trucks on the trip, however the second vehicle, a Mack B615 V8, didn’t make it. “Only one truck made the whole journey, the B615 didn’t make it all the way. It broke down at Win ton after having fuel pump problems and was towed back to Toowoomba,” said Mulligan.
after legendary rig move
Darrell Brown shakes hands with Keegan Mulligan, who had the honours of driving the historic rig. Australian country music singer Chad Morgan OAM, aged 86, provided entertainment before the convoy set off. A large group came along to be part of the re-enactment.
GMP Law is investigating a class action and the compensation could potentially be a significant proportion of the purchase price of the vehicle. There is no risk or cost to you for being a class Theremember.isnorisk or cost to you for Ifregistering.youhaveowned a Hino vehicle made between 1 January 2003 and 2 August 2022 you may be entitled to significant Todamages.register please vehicles.EmissionsFueltheHinowww.hinoclassaction.com.auvisit:misreportedPerformance,Efficiency,andoftheirCLASS ACTION AGAINST HINO
FEATURE 27BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 02 2022
28 READER RIGS
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 02 2022 BIGRIGS.COM.AU
SHELL Rimula has partnered with Big Rigs in a big way – so now there’s even more reasons to send in your best truck shots. Each month, the Big Rigs team will choose a #PicOfT heMonth, with the lucky win ner receiving a $500 Shell Coles Express Gift Card. Keep an eye out for our reg ular posts on the Big Rigs Na tional Road Transport News paper Facebook page, calling for your best truck photos and add yours in the comments, or email them to editor@bigrigs. com.au.Don’t forget to include a brief note about the truck and where the photo was tak en. We’ll feature some of the best photos in each edition of Big Rigs Newspaper, with one winner announced each month. Keep those amazing truck pics coming!
Paul Freeth gets the job done, hauling this oversize load of Terracorp Tanks and a trailer carrying poly, bound for the NT/WA border. Chris Head shared this snap, carting fuel to the mines. Liz Armstrong sent in this shot, taken among the canola fields, near Marsden, Queensland.
Congratulations to Russell Oppermann, who has won a $500 Shell Coles Express Gift Card for this shot, snapped while delivering part of a drill rig out near the SA/Qld border.
Filip Schubert captured this winter sunset in Dandenong, Victoria, after loading.
Share your truck pics to win with Shell Rimula
Aimee Booth does an early morning drop-off in the Western Star in Wilton, NSW.Nicholas Dolan heads through Melbourne’s Citylink tunnel.
Reader Rigs proudly supported by #PicOfTheMonth
BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 02 2022
That sky: Adam Halliday captured this glorious sunrise shot at Maidment.
Wayne Agius took this new C509 up to Kununurra recently, while taking the dog (of the Mack breed) along for the ride.Jamie Neville crosses the Isaac River at May Downs in Queensland.
Milly MC snapped this shot of Kasey from Hi Quality Group at the pads in Roma before continuing his journey to Eromanga, Queensland.
Pearson Smith snapped a ripper shot of this vibrant yellow Kenworth at the container port.
READER RIGS 29
Niell Graham shared this snap of Easter’s 25th anniversary Volvo FH16 picking up some new trailers. This Kenworth T908 stopped to admire the view while working on the Westgate Tunnel Project. Thanks for sharing Mark Rowbottom.
When the going gets tough, truckies keep everyone going
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 02 2022 BIGRIGS.COM.AU30 EVENTS AFTER a two-year Covid-en forced break, the Lowood Truck Show in Queensland returned this year with a bang. Big turnout for Lowood Truck Show • Premium Italian manufacturer • Steel & Alloy tanks from 70lt to 200lt • Chassis Mount and Rear of Cabin Mount • All tanks supplied with ‘Anti Splash Breather’ • Additional accessories available
Available from over 50 dealers nationwide or online at westernstarshop.com.au Available from your participating Western Star Dealer. Prices include GST and are valid from 1st September - 30th September 2022. Prices and specifications are subject to change without notice and do not include freight. Images are for illustration purposes only - actual products may differ from shown. To find your closest dealer, or to purchase online, visit: westernstarshop.com.au Penske Australia reserves the right to correct printing errors. GREAT RANGE OF DISCOUNT ALL-MAKES PARTS AND WESTERNSTARSHOP.COM.AUACCESSORIES RDP Air System $64 $99 $94 $72 $64 $152 $141 $72 Wabco Style Leveling Valve RDP4640060020 Rotary Raise/Lower Trailer Valve RDP4630320200 Cab Height Control Valve RDP2168 Suzi Coil Long RDPSCL Suzi Coil Short RDPSCS Trailer Park Valve Blue RDP400 Trailer Park Valve Red RDP700 Levelling valve KN27000 Type RDP27000 Reliable Dependable Parts ONLY ONLY ONLY ONLY ONLY ONLY ONLY ONLY
MOVINGAUSTRALIAKEEPING
Loadshift has changed the way RTH Transport does its business. RTH Transport now operates from two depots in NSW and Queensland.
32 SPONSORED CONTENT
LOADSHIFT HAS MADE FREIGHT OF ALL TYPES MUCH EASIER TO OBTAIN. THERE ARE STILL A FEW LOADING AGENTS AROUND AND IT IS STILL HANDY TO USE THEM; BUT WITH LOADSHIFT YOU CAN JUST GO ONLINE AND SEE ALL THE LOADS THAT ARE AVAILABLE. I THINK LOADSHIFT IS ONLY GOING TO KEEP GETTING BIGGER AND BIGGER.”
Rowan Hall started RTH Transport with just one truck.
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 02 2022 BIGRIGS.COM.AU
RTH Transport was started by Rowan Hall when he bought his first truck at the age of 21. Over a decade on, the 34-yearold business owner now op erates six trucks which travel across the country. There are two depots, locat ed at Burren Junction, NSW, and Gracemere, Queensland. “The trucks travel predomi nantly into Perth and Darwin – the longer the trip, the bet ter,” said operations manager Mark Gillespie, 59, who is based on the Gold Coast. He says the vast majority of the work is general freight, with some grain in the mix too. Gillespie has been in the transport game for the past three decades. “My late fa ther taught me to drive many years ago. I was about 13-14 when he first started teaching me. Then I had a provisional licence when he got crook –before I was even supposed to have one. That was during the 80s and I would’ve been about 15,” he Thesesaid.days, Gillespie has given up full-time driving but still gets back behind the wheel whenever there’s a need. He joined RTH Transport nearly three years ago and since then, the company has been an avid user of heavy haulage mar ketplace business Loadshift. “I have used Loadshift for about 10 years, having used it while at various other businesses too. We began using it here at RTH because of the amount of work that’s available through the platform. For the cost you pay to subscribe, you only need one job and it’s already cov ered,” explained Gillespie. In August, the Loadshift platform merged with Freight lancer, which had bought out the business in May 2021. The move to merge the two plat forms offers users a range of enhanced features including secure payment and vetting processes.Since adding Loadshift into the mix, it’s changed the way RTH Transport does its business.Gillespie says that RTH Transport now gets about 60 per cent of its work through the platform, with the remain der coming from the compa ny’s own contacts and clients. “Loadshift has made freight of all types much eas ier to obtain. There are still a few loading agents around and it is still handy to use them; but with Loadshift you can just go online and see all the loads that are available. I think Loadshift is only going to keep getting bigger and bigger,” said Gillespie. When you sign up with Loadshift, you can include details of what you can carry, along with the vehicles and trailers you have, and then search what’s available based on those criteria. As RTH Transport has found, the Loadshift platform can be quite time-saving too. “With Loadshift, people come back to you reason ably quickly,” said Gillespie. “So if there’s a job in Perth for example, you can do the delivery and before you even get home, you’ve already been paid for it.”
MARK GILLESPIE Loadshift adds an extra layer of flexibility for RTH CARRIERS NEEDED START YOUR 7 DAY FREE TRIAL 1300 56 23 74 LOADSHIFT.COM.AU/FREETRIAL
BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 02 2022 SPONSORED CONTENT 33
vWork is making it easier for transport operators to better manage fuel Calculatingsurcharges.fuelcosts and working them into invoices is a time-consuming process on a good day. These days how ever, with constantly changing fuel prices, which can include wild swings both up and down on a sometimes daily basis, it’s become an increasingly monu mental task. The good news is that software-as-a-service com pany, vWork, can help to re duce the time and energy you spend on the fuel adjustment factor.The fuel adjustment factor (FAF), also called variable fuel factor, fuel surcharge, and fuel levy is a percentage-based sur charge that lets you factor in variations in fuel costs without needing to adjust your base transportation rates. Many operators calculate FAF using a predetermined percentage and pass on some of the fuel costs to customers. This allows them to manage the variations in fuel costs caused by unpredictable factors such as dynamic fuel pricing and geopolitical uncertainty. With fuel prices often changing quickly in a short pe riod, FAF offers operators flex ibility and certainty by helping to recover fuel costs whilst also clearly identifying the rising cost of fuel on the invoices to their“Havingcustomers.tomanually adjust fuel surcharges on invoices can eat up a lot of valuable time when you’re on the job,” said Sam Edmond, head of market ing at “NotvWork.only is it time-con suming to have to manage across multiple invoices on any given day, but it often takes employees away from helping customers.”vWorkcustomers get com plete control over which in voice line items FAF applies to, ensuring the amount is ac curately reflected in all invoic ing,FAFautomatically.canbe enabled through the finance settings in vWork and, once enabled, there is an option to set the FAF rate percentage for trans port line items. To use FAF for an individual template, is as easy as enabling invoicing for the template, adding line items, and then selecting the FAF checkbox for each line item that you want the FAF surcharge applied to. FAF can also be applied to automatically generated line items, for hourly and mileage rates that apply to both users and“Whatequipment.thisdoes is it creates a way to automate the process, so you don’t have to manual ly calculate the surcharge on every invoice. You set the per centage and vWork handles everything else,” explained Edmond.Likewith any process, au tomating FAF in this way helps with a few things. First, employees are spending far less of their time doing paperwork. Rather than manual calcula tions, they enter a percentage into the account settings once and the calculating happens automatically. Not only does this make things happen fast er, but it removes the risk of human error from the process, meaning you’re spending less time redoing invoices or on the phone with customers. All of this means you can focus on better serving your customers. FAF also helps your cus tomers understand why the invoice this month is different from last month. The chang ing cost of fuel is clearly called out on the invoice and the base delivery rates are shown as unchanged. This ensures the end customer understands that as an operator you are not charging more for your ser vices.
with vWork
Software-as-a-service company, vWork, can help reduce the time spent on the fuel adjustment factor.
WHAT THIS DOES IS IT CREATES A WAY TO AUTOMATE THE PROCESS, SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO MANUALLY CALCULATE THE SURCHARGE ON EVERY INVOICE. YOU SET THE PERCENTAGE AND VWORK HANDLES EVERYTHING ELSE.” SAM EDMOND GEARBOX & DIFFS Unit 1/71 Axis Place, Larapinta, QLD 4110 Ph: (07) 3276 9300 | Fax: (07) 3276 9301 | Email: davids@gibbsparts.com | Email: gd@gibbsparts.com Web: www.gibbstrucktransmissions.com.au ZF TCM UNITS JAPANESE TRANSMISSIONS FOR ALL FOUR MAJOR BRANDS, LARGE RANGE OF DIFFS IN STOCK FOR AMERICAN, EUROPEAN AND JAPANESE TANDEM AND SINGLE DRIVE VOLVO/MACK AMT TRANSMISSIONSSCANIAPOWERPACKSTRANSMISSIONSSPARE PARTS MERCEDES 6—16 SPEEDSLARGE RANGE OF ROADRANGER TRANSMISSIONS ZF TRANSMISSIONS 6-16 SPEED GRS0905/92 FM DIFF
Many operators calculate FAF using a predetermined percentage and pass on some of the fuel costs to customers.
Managing the fuel adjustment factor
“I’m Perth born and bred, it’s the best part of the coun try in my opinion. I love trav elling anywhere on the WA coast. Esperance and Broome are beautiful. If I’m not truck driving, I’m camping or trav elling. I’ve been around Aus tralia twice on holiday and WA has the best beaches and best coastal locations of all, but you can’t get to too many of them with a truck. Getting in the middle of the outback and meeting the characters and seeing how some people do life is what I really enjoy. “But complying on the east coast compared to the west coast is a minefield. There’s no freedom out east. If you
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 02 2022 BIGRIGS.COM.AU
Bill Carruthers LEGISLATION HAS CHANGED FOR THE WORSE AND THERE’S ALSO A LACK OF COMRADERY. IT’S NOW A CUT-THROAT FOR THE DOLLAR. BEING AN OLD FELLA COMPARATIVELY, THE SOUL OF THE INDUSTRY HAS GONE DOWN THE GURGLER – YOU CAN’T DO THIS AND YOU CAN’T DO THAT. AND THAT WOULD BE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE.” BILL CARRUTHERS It’s been one hell of a ride for Bill Carruthers, whose been an owner operator for the past 20 years.
34 DRIVER PROFILES
“AT school, they told me I’d never get paid to look out the window, but I proved them wrong,” laughed Perth-based owner operator Bill Car ruthers, 62. “I often say I bleed diesel not blood. I love that side of the life. I couldn’t work in doors. I’d rather be getting pounded by the rain and cold or in the blistering heat than being stuck in an office.” Carruthers runs Westwide Transport, servicing mine sites throughout Western Australia and into the North ern Territory with his beloved 2014 Western Star 4900. “I’ve had the 4900 nearly a year now. The one before that was a 4800 I had for 12 years. I wanted to come back to the 4900 for a bit more cabin comfort. It’s super comfy and super quiet. I like the Western Stars for their look and com fort, and most of all, it can be worked on in the outback which is good. I’ve spent a lot on it to customise it – I take a lot of pride in my gear.”
Truckin’ In The Outback
In fact, Carruthers has even installed an external shower and water tank on the truck. “The heat of the drive warms the water and then I can pull over anywhere and have a shower. I do the Tanami and various locations where there are no services, so I come out pretty grubby and I don’t want to jump back in the cab in like that. I may be a truckie but I still like to be clean and tidy, so like this I can stop anywhere for a shower and then take off again.” Though when Carruthers chatted to Big Rigs, he was on a return leg from Queensland. “This is the first time I’ve gone into Queensland in 12 years, it’s very rare that I cross over the border that way,” he said. “Yesterday I pulled in from Mackay and then I’ll be back for a week before I load up and go back out again. On this trip I noticed how rough the roads were in Queensland compared to here in WA. You see all these crashes on the roads and often wonder why, but many of the roads are just not up to standard.
SUPPORTEDPROUDLY BY WHERE TRANSPORT DOES BUSINESS
With his 2014 Western Star 4900, he services mine sites throughout WA and into the NT.
BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 02 2022
“But there’s no point get ting annoyed. You need to embrace it or get out. If it’s in your blood, it’s in your blood and if it’s not, you just can’t doThroughit.” his many years in the industry, Carruthers says there’s been some incredible highs, but there have also been terrible heart-breaking lowsHetoo.started working as an owner operator about 20 years ago – and has continued on that journey apart from a short stint as a workplace as sessor and trainer. “That was only short-lived though and then I was back behind the wheel,” he said. At one point, Carruthers built his company up to a fleet of seven trucks, before things turned sour. “I had seven trucks a few years ago but lost them all, through a lack of wisdom in that area. I took a man’s word instead of doing due dili gence, and they took me to the cleaners. I lost my trucks and my house of 27 years. But I didn’t lose what was most important: my wife or my son. I also had a heart attack nine months ago but I’ve lost a lot of weight and now I’m looking ahead to better times. I get a kick out of providing good service and seeing peo ple happy,” he said. “I used to carry food into the outback and seeing the kids’ eyes and faces light up when you pulled in was just amazing. It makes you realise how much of a thread to life blood truckies are for the peo ple. Then it all moved from that personal touch to pro ductivity, time schedules and performance. I’ve been lucky enough to have retained a few good clients who have a heart for the family and as much as they can, they plan their trips Monday to Friday so I can be home on the weekends and have a work/life balance. This industry still has highlights or else I wouldn’t still be there,” Carruthers added. “I love being out there, out of the city, out of the traffic and in the countryside where people actually stop and say hello. Up until you get to the mine site, you’ve got time to process your thoughts and appreciate the country we live in. We’re very blessed to call it home.”
“My old man was a trans port manager for a paper re cycling company called APM. They had a fleet of trucks and that’s where I started, in the rigids.“Then I met a bloke with a big rig and he asked if I wanted to come for a ride, so I did, and I told him I wanted to make that a career. He said I was mad,” chuckled Car ruthers.“Then another bloke gave me a go in 1981, doing long haul from Perth to Marble Bar in the Pilbara.” He says that was back in the day when many trucks didn’t have air conditioning, and be fore road rules existed the way they do today. “There’s a big difference in the way the industry was back then compared to how it is now. It’s lost a lot of the fun,” Carruthers“Legislationadded.has changed for the worse and there’s also a lack of comradery. It’s now a cut-throat for the dollar. Be ing an old fella comparatively, the soul of the industry has gone down the gurgler – you can’t do this and you can’t do that. And that would be the biggest challenge. “It’s been a gradual change, a bit like a frog in hot wa ter. I think things started to change during the 1990s, where they started telling us we had to wear long sleeve shirts and long pants. And it progressed from there. The old school hands-on teaching of young fellas is out the win dow. Somebody else packs it now and you just pick it up and run. There are too many steering wheel attendants ver sus properly trained drivers.
DRIVER PROFILES 35 Truckin’ In The Outback SUPPORTEDPROUDLYBY WHERE TRANSPORT DOES BUSINESS Tel: 1300 655 050 www.bigwheels.net.au AUSTRALIAN DISTRIBUTOR BIG AUSTRALIAALIGNMENTTRUCKWHEELS ’ S NO 1 WHEEL ALIGNERS www.bigwheels.net.au Tel: 1300 655 050 FULLY CERTIFIED STAFF NSW Arndell Park 02 9671 3983 Central Coast 02 4325 02Tamworth577767632500 QLD 07Mackay07Gracemere07Gold07Bundaberg41115989Coast556322004933481149524177 North Brisbane 07 3268 4188 07Rocklea3275 07Logan07Emerald07Townsville07Toowoomba07Sunshine3348Coast5445170546341749477442364987604034455712 VIC 03Pakenham03Morwell03Laverton03Geelong03Dandenong8768798552722460936911155133027259417730 WA 08Perth9353 3111 make a mistake on a logbook, you’re hung – and we don’t run logbooks over here. Of course you want to do the right thing by the rules, by the diary and by your family and comeWhenhome.”asked what led to his four-decade long career in trucking, Carruthers says it all started with a little toy truck. “I reckon it started when I was four years old. I was brought up at a time when children were seen and not heard; so I would sit behind my grandfa ther’s chair on the floor and I would play with this little toy truck. I reckon that’s what birthed it. When I was 17, I got my licence,” he reflected.
The Somerton branch offers a drive-in drive-out service for trucks.
FEATURE
CONTENT
SPONSORED DRIVELINE
GJ Drivelines director Matt Sadler. The business provides driveline services for trucks, buses, cars, boats, industrial equipment, and even performance vehicles.
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 02 2022 BIGRIGS.COM.AU36
Same day driveline service GJ Drivelines •TAILSHAFTINDUSTRIALHEAVYSomertonVEHICLE,ANDAUTOMOTIVESPECIALIST•TailshaftrepairsandmanufacturingDigitalbalancing•Hugerangeinstock • Same day turnaround • Drive in drive out service available (03) 9305 www.gjdrivelines.com.ausales@gjdrivelines2.com7261 794 Cooper St Somerton, Victoria 3062 REPLACEMENT AIR MANIFOLD FOR FIREWALL OF MACK MODELS CH/CL/VISION/TITAN/TRIDENT TRUCKS BUILT PRE 2007 PART NO. DJF AM-01 US PATENT PENDING | AUSTRALIAN DESIGN REG. NO 202012181 Minimise Air Leaks Reduce Costly Ongoing Repairs Reduce Downtime Individual Replaceable Fittings Replace your old Plastic Manifold with a DJF Aluminum Manifold TODAY! RRP $1250 + GST 0417 428 821 | dallas@djffabrications.com NEW PRODUCT Find us on facebook/djffabrications New Modification Part Number DJF AM-01 Firewall Air Manifold. Price includes all high Quality Brass DOT Air fittings and all New Low Air Pressure Switches and Mounting Gasket. Proudly made in Australia. Recommended to be fitted by a Qualified Heavy Vehicle Mechanic) MACKATTENTIONOWNERS OUR SAME DAY SERVICE MEANS TRUCKS CAN DRIVE IN, THE BOYS WILL REMOVE THE TAIL SHAFT, REBUILD IT, BALANCE IT AND PUT IT BACK IN THE TRUCK ALL IN THE SAME DAY, SO THERE’S ONLY MINIMAL DOWNTIME – OUR TRUCKIE CUSTOMERS LOVE IT.” MATT SADLER
OPERATING from two Mel bourne locations, GJ Drivelines is a second-generation family owned and operated business with a proven reputation in driveline manufacturing, bal ancing and repairs. Started in 1983 by Gary Sadler, the business is now run by his son Matt Sadler, a me chanical engineer, who is also a qualified fitter and turner by trade. Now 37 years of age, he joined the family business in 2001, at the age of just 16 and has been honing his trade ever since. These days, you’ll still find him getting his hands dirty in the workshop, together with eight fully qualified technicians, including mechanics and qual ified boiler makers with multi ple welding certificates. Matt is joined by business partner Joel Peckham, who runs the day to day operations of the Somerton branch. GJ Drivelines provides cus tomers with all of their driveline needs, under the one roof. “We carry the majority of the parts on hand and keep all the com mon components in stock. This means we’re faster than any oth er driveline shop. A high quality same day service is what we’re all about,” said Matt. “At GJ Drivelines, we en sure attention to detail every step of the way. Because it’s a family owned and operat ed business, the owners work within the workshop along side our staff – and we even answer the phones too.” GJ Drivelines operates from its original location on Chel tenham Road in Keysborough, just off East Link; as well as a second branch in Somerton. Specialising in heavy vehi cles, the Somerton location was opened just last year to service Melbourne’s north. “We decid ed to open the Somerton loca tion to specialise in the heavy vehicle side of it and chose that particular location because we wanted to cover both sides of Melbourne,” added Matt. GJ Drivelines has built close to 40 years of knowledge and experience in drivelines – so the business knows drivelines, and it knows them well. Gary, who retired just six years ago, started GJ Drivelines after the driveline business he had been working for closed down. That company manu factured brand new drivelines for Kenworths and many of the other large Australian truck manufacturers.Garypurchased some equipment from the business and started his own driveline venture. In the early days, he secured a contract with the Australian Army (which the business still holds to this day) and business grew from there. Though Gary is now re tired, Matt says he’s still there to offer his advice. “My moth er is part of the business too, working as our bookkeeper,” saidTodayMatt.the business provides driveline services for trucks, buses, cars, boats, industrial equipment, and even perfor mance vehicles “Keysboroughtoo.now specia lises in performance vehicles, with tail shafts manufactured out of aluminium and carbon fibre. We’re the only ones do ing that in Australia,” said Matt.While at Somerton, the drive-in drive-out service for trucks means operators are back on the road in a flash; be cause as any transport operator knows, time off the road costs you“Ourmoney.same day service means trucks can drive in, the boys will remove the tail shaft, rebuild it, balance it and put it back in the truck all in the same day, so there’s only min imal downtime – our truckie customers love it,” said Matt. GJ Drivelines’ workshops employ high grade machinery, including a Schenck digital balancing machine. “So we use the best balancing equipment available,” said Matt. For more information, please visit gjdrivelinesSomer ton.com.au.
AS part of a new initiative with the Christchurch City Coun cil, nine Fuso eCanters, run by nine different operators, have just hit the road. The unique purpose-built Fuso eCanters are part of two emission-reduction coun cil projects, which are being co-funded by the Energy Effi cient Conservation Authority (EECA).These trucks have joined New Zealand companies in volved in the civil mainte nance, traffic management and urban delivery sectors.
BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 02 2022 DRIVELINE FEATURE 37
Fuso eCanters hit the road across the ditch 1300 332 866 FOR YOUR NEAREST STOCKIST You asked for an alternative European clutch solution. Eaton MackreleaseAnnouncinglistened.ournewforVolvo&owners. • Mack mDRIVE & Volvo I-Shift Automated transmissions. • 100% new components. Nothing remanufactured or reused. • Cushioned organic facings allow for smoother engagement. • Larger spring fingers for better wear and superior performance. • The standard pre-damper eliminates idling rattle. Nine purpose-built Fuso eCanters have hit the road as part of two emission-reduction council projects. WE’RE GATHERING PRACTICAL LEARNINGS FROM THE PROJECTS, SO THAT TRUCK OPERATORS CAN SEE HOW TO BEST USE BATTERY ELECTRIC TRUCK TECHNOLOGY FOR THEIR KEVINOPERATIONS.”CRUTCHLEY
Christchurch City Coun cil resource efficiency manag er Kevin Crutchley said the projects would provide in valuable learnings not only for the council and participating businesses, but for other local councils and the wider trans port and civil contracting in dustries.“We’re gathering practical learnings from the projects, so that truck operators can see how to best use battery electric truck technology for their op erations,” said Crutchley. “It’s important to note that all equipment and plant use from these battery electric ve hicles will have zero exhaust emissions.”“Theprojects aim to show what’s possible with the electri fication of commercial trucks. With transport making up the majority of our district’s emis sions, it’s critical that we find a path towards zero exhaust emission trucks, in addition to battery electric passenger cars.” The Fuso eCanters are 100 per cent electric and have been fitted with a variety of appli cation-specific body types, in cluding chiller bodies for fresh food distribution, curtainsid ers for express freight delivery, and a range of flat deck and utility configurations for civil infrastructure, maintenance work and traffic management. Fuso New Zealand gen eral manager, Kevin Smith, highlighted the broad scope of body types as a positive demonstration of the ver satility and adaptability of the all-electric 6T and 7.5T FUSO eCanter range. “It has been Fuso New Zealand’s pleasure to work closely from day one with Christchurch City Council to formulate these two projects, and to collaborate with partic ipating businesses and body builders, as well as EROAD and Mercury NZ,” Smith said. “The broad range of appli cations to which these Fuso eCanter trucks have been put to work, and the outstand ing body builds on display, demonstrate their adaptabil ity and suitability for emis sion-free operation across a range of Smithindustries.”saidit’sencouraging to see how the drive towards reducing greenhouse gas emis sions was being embraced by diverse transport operators. “We are also extremely proud that Fuso eCanter is the number one choice in its class for operators in New Zealand. It has far outsold its nearest competitor since launching in 2021,” Smith added. “We invite all interested businesses to contact us to discuss how Fuso eCanter can play a role in reducing their Scope 1 and Scope 3 emis sions.”Fuso eCanter’s versatility is supported by its practical payload capacity of up to 3.5 tonnes and a range of ad vanced safety features. Oper ators are also supported by a 6-year/180,000km warranty.Each of the Fusos is being run by different operators.
Steering shafts incorporate a slip assembly to take care of the relative movement between cabs and the frame mounted steering gear. Steering shafts: A common fault that’s often overlooked PROUD AUTHORISED SUPPLIERS OF: Australia's Leading Heavy Vehicle Power Steering Specialist Repair or Replacement Steering Gears (new or refurbished) , Pumps, Drag Links, Slip Shafts, Rod Ends, Seal Kits, Miter Gears ,Coolers and MORE. @ AFTERMARKET O BOSCH il!!Ki.®SHEPPARD VICKERS CF=IPRICORN HYDRAULICS Locations: • Bayswater Victoria Ph. 03 9762 8855 • Laverton Victoria Ph. 03 9314 5000 • Perth WA Ph. 08 9493 5885 • Brisbane QLD Ph. 07 3555 8750 • Sydney NSW Ph. 02 9604 5693 info@hydrosteer.com.au www.hydrosteer.com.au Australia’s Largest Speciality Truck Tool Supplier. The Right Tool For The Right Job. Products To Keep Your Investment On The Road. TRUCK REPAIR TOOLS AND WORKSHOP EQUIPMENT Australian owned and operated Australia’s Products To Keep Your a • TRUCK ENGINE TOOLS AXLE HUB NUT SOCKETS Ph: 1800 000 Australia’s Largest Specialty Truck Products To Keep Your Investment On The Road. Huge a • TRUCK ENGINE TOOLS • DRIVELINE / TRANSMISSION TOOLS • • AXLE HUB NUT SOCKETS • HAND TOOLS / TORQUE WRENCHES Ph: 1800 000 561 or 03 9703Australia’s Largest Specialty Truck Tool Supplier. The Right Tool For The Right Job. Products To Keep Your Investment On The Road. Huge Range - Best Prices - Best Service - Australia Wide Delivery WORKSHOP EQUIPMENT • TRUCK FILTER TOOLS • AXLE / HUB TOOLS • GEAR / SLIDE/ SEAL DRIVERS • TRUCK FUEL TOOLS BRAKE/ STEERING/ SUSPENSION TOOLS • TRUCK WHEEL SERVICE TOOLS • SPECIALLY HAND TOOLS www.trucktools.com.au 1800 000 561 or 03 9703 2000 Email: info@trucktools.com.au 1800 000 561 - AUSTRALIA WIDE SERVICE ONLINE FREIGHTWarehouseCATALOGUElocationAUSTRALIA WIDE www.trucktools.com.auPhone0397032000Frecall1800000561info@trucktools.com.au Huge Range - Best Prices - Best Service - Quality Products Warehouse Pick-up available subject to prior arrangement www.trucktools.com.au IF THE STEERING SLIP SHAFT IS SEIZED, THEN THAT STEERING GEAR’S VALVE MAY NOT OPERATE OR IT MAY OPERATE UNPREDICTABLY. AS PART OF YOUR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, IT’S IMPORTANT TO ALWAYS CHECK THE STEERING SHAFT FOR ITS EASE OF MOVEMENT AND SLIP.” Hydrosteer stocks a large range of universal steering slip shafts.
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 02 2022 BIGRIGS.COM.AU38 SPONSORED CONTENT DRIVELINE FEATURE
UNIVERSAL steering shafts are almost always overlooked when trouble shooting steer ing systems, yet according to Hydrosteer’s experience, they are one of the most common faults that the company en counters.Steering shafts incorpo rate a slip assembly to take care of the relative movement between cabs and the frame mounted steering gear. The relative movement can be considerable particularly on cab over engine (COE) vehi cles with soft cab suspensions. If this slip assembly seizes, or if it partially seizes, then a considerable load can be applied to the steering gears input shaft thrust bearing and steering shaft bearings. In many cases, this load will end up causing premature failure of the steering gear. The ap plication of load to the steer ing gears input shaft can also cause the input shaft seal to leak.In some of the older steer ing gear designs, the input shaft must move in and out as the load is applied to the steer ing wheel so it can move a hy draulic valve which then pro vides hydraulic assistance. If the steering slip shaft is seized, then that steering gear’s valve may not operate or it may op erateAsunpredictably.partofyour routine maintenance, it’s important to always check the steering shaft for its ease of movement and slip.Hydrosteer was established in June 1981, possessing over 40 years of experience in heavy truck steering systems. Over that time, it has devel oped diagnostic techniques to diagnose all manner of steering issues. Hydrosteer has become a vital link between Australia and New Zealand’s heavy vehicle manufacturing and maintenance industries. By establishing itself as the leader in heavy truck steering technology in Australia, Hy drosteer is now the focal point for information relating to heavy truck Hydrosteersteering.stocks a large range of universal steering slip shafts, and as it is able to man ufacture locally Hydrosteer, has the capacity to design slip shafts for new installations, along with catering for all other requirements, including custom-made one offs. Hydrosteer carries Austra lia’s largest range of heavy ve hicle power steering products. The company is the autho rized service agent for R.H. Sheppard and Z.F. Steering systems.Along with steering slip shafts, Hydrosteer also pro vides new and re-manufac tured power steering gears, steering pumps to suit all makes and models, VIP steer ing wheels, mitre boxes and drag link assemblies that are made to OEM`s stringent quality specifications, and oil reservoir filters and parts. For all your heavy vehicle steering requirements, please call Hydrosteer on 1300 010 338 or visit the website at hy drosteer.com.au.
BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 02 2022 SPONSORED CONTENT DRIVELINE FEATURE 39
WITH decades of experience, The Haire Truck and Bus Re pairs has become known for its first class repairs and main tenance services, along with its award winning HaireBag Suspension – a unique patent ed upgrade that can be fitted to any OEM truck or trailer air bag suspension.
The GCM increase can of ten be done without the need for double rails or big heavy diffs, so customers are often finding there is also a tare weight saving between chang ing over their trucks to more modern, higher rated units. Haire’s customers have re ported another added bonus too, with real fuel savings at tributed to HaireBag suspen sion; as Paddy Knight attests. “Since setting up a complete three trailer road train on Haire bag suspension, our fuel consumption in a 12hour shift has decreased by 75 litres.”And with the price of fuel spiking in recent months, these sorts of savings are like ly to capture the attention of many operators.
The Haire Truck and Bus Repairs was started by man aging director William (Bill) Haire, who is originally from Tallangatta in north-eastern Victoria. He is a highly ex perienced heavy vehicle tech nician and over the years has gained a reputation for his innovative problem solving skills.Bill has gathered a wealth of knowledge through his time as a heavy vehicle driver, mechanic, designer and busi ness Ang Haire grew up in the family busi ness, joining the team in 1993 as a back when my father started out from the back of his XY Ford sedan,” sheFromsaid. there, Bill moved to a rented premises in Wodon ga. He purchased the proper ty in 1995 and expanded the workshop. Then in 2005, he carried out a substantial ex tension to the building, buy ing an adjoining property the following year, in 2006, to ensure the business could con tinue to expand through the generations that will follow.
Hisowner.daughter
Among Bill’s major achievements is the develop ment of his HaireBag Sus pension, which was designed right here in Australia, to suit Australian conditions. Bill first started tinkering with suspensions after being tasked with getting an air sus pension system working on a customer’s tipper. “He was complaining that the truck would get hung up, or lose traction at the slight est hint of rain. At the time, his customer had invested in a new air bag suspension, mov ing away from the old Hen drickson walking beam sus pension that was synonymous at the time for great traction, but also known for its rough ride,” Ang explained. Bill’s HaireBag Suspension took care of both issues. It had improved traction and stabili ty, and was being praised for the softer ride. With thousands of units now out on the road, a sec ondary benefit was discovered in the ability to offer custom ers an increased gross com bination mass (GCM) after fitting HaireBag suspension. Sales of the product have accelerated over the past 12 months.After fitting HaireBag sus pension, the company says it’s able to offer customers a GCM increase (subject to engineer approval). In most cases this is an additional 20 per cent GCM. “Customers can see the cost benefits, and some are now travelling from as far away as WA to ensure they aren’t missing out,” Ang said. With current delays in new truck deliveries and a shortfall in the number of sec ond-hand units in the market, this increase in GCM is being welcomed with open arms by customers seeking to upgrade their existing trucks to handle the latest load ratings, partic ularly in Queensland for S10 stock ratings and the C-train grain ratings in WA.
Bill and Ang Haire at their stand during a recent show. A family business through and through How? Due to HaireBag’s unique 100% dynamic load sharing capabilities, this reduces the chassis bending moment and driveline torque loadings. HaireBag also offers better traction, better stability and superior braking without ABS, EBS or stability control SubjecttoindividualOEMvehiclespecifications Ph: 02 6056 2399 www.thehairetruckandbusrepairs.com.au HAIRE HAIREBAG SUSPENSION With h aireBag SuSPen S ion 20% INCREASE IN GCM* The Haire Truck and Bus Repairs developed its award winning HaireBag Suspension – a unique patented upgrade that can be fitted to any OEM truck or trailer air bag suspension. The workshop in Wodonga.
“Iteenager.remember
COMMERCIAL VEHICLE DISC BRAKE PADS
FE
Find solutions for every brake job at www.bendix.com.au Or freecall the Bendix Brake Advice Centre on 1800 819 666 Bendix is a trademark of Garrett
Brake upgrade kits offer huge braking gains
To combat the extreme pressures that heavy duty vehicles such as Cement Agitators, Garbage Compactors or City Route buses are exposed to, Bendix has created Bendix Protrans™HD. Protrans™HD has a heavy-duty formulation designed to cope with high temperatures found in constant braking and full GVM loading which requires a higher performance brake pad.
Rear Ultimate 4WD Big Brake Upgrade kit with drum to disc conversion The rear kit is a full drum to disc conversion package, that removes all OE drum assembly and replaces it with the Bendix Ultimate 4WD disc rotors and hydraulic calipers. Installation requires the removal of all com ponents from the vehicle axles, which is why the kit comes complete with replacement bearings and seals (ABS rings and collars depending on vehi cle Themodel).kit also includes a re placement park brake mecha nism that’s actuated using the OE park brake cable, Bendix Brake Hoses, Ultimate 4WD Brake Pads and all the ancillary components and accessories mentioned for the front kits. Meeting ADRs All kits are 100 per cent legal and comply with Australian Design Rules. Some legal vari ances from state to state mean that in certain locations (VIC, NSW, ACT, SA and TAS), an en gineering inspection will be required to ensure the kits have been installed prop erly and are functioning correctly, after which a mod plate will be is sued.For owners in QLD and WA, Bendix have a pre-authorised LG1 certificate, and all that’s required after fit ment is to advise the registra tionForauthority.further information in cluding vehicle suitability de tails, real world test data and FAQs, visit bendix.com.au.
REFERENCEMATERIAL APPLICATION
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 02 2022 BIGRIGS.COM.AU40 SPONSORED CONTENT DRIVELINE FEATURE
Advancing Motion
new
TM
SAEj1401-approved Ulti mate 4WD Brake Hoses, a litre of Bendix Heavy Duty Brake Fluid, a can of Bendix Cleanup, a tube of Ceramasil brake parts lubricant and a 60 litre Bendix branded icebox are also included.
MAXIMUM CONTINUOUS WORKING TEMPERATURE Protrans™HDSuper
CLASSIFICATIONFRICTION Heavy Duty – Severe duty applications, Refuse Compactors, Concrete Agitators, Route bus applications. Frequent braking environments, heavy traffic, steep gradients. Long wear life at high brake temperature. Strong resistance to fade at very high temperatures. 500°C
Bendix’s ADR-compliant Ultimate 4WD Big Brake Upgrade Kits. BENDIX’S new ADR-compli ant Ultimate 4WD Big Brake Upgrade Kits deliver vastly im proved braking performance for owners of dual cab utes and their wagon derivatives, in the convenience of two compre hensive kits (front and rear). The increasing populari ty of these cars as dual-pur pose vehicles – family haulers and workhorses – means that there’s a huge range of acces sories and modifications avail able. Although these improve functionality, they also add weight, increase centre of grav ity and rolling resistance. What’s included? The front kit includes larger diameter Ultimate 4WD Disc Brake Rotors, Bendix 6-Pis ton monoblock calipers with bracket mounting kit, as well as Ultimate 4WD Brake Pads and Ultimate 4WD Braided BrakeTheHoses.larger Ultimate 4WD Disc Brake Rotors are 365mm in diameter and feature a ‘Di amond Tip Slot’ that allows gases to escape in demanding driving situations, maintaining brakingOtherperformance.benefitsofthe rotors include High Carbon Metallur gy which improves noise damp ening while lowering thermal conductivity. Additionally, the rotors feature SwiftFit surface protection allowing them to be fitted without cleaning or an ti-rust oil Complementingtreatment. the rotors are the proven Ultimate 4WD Brake Pads which have been specially designed for use with slotted rotors. Also included is a Mechanical Retention System (MRS) backing plate, which improves pad attachment strength in demanding operat ingAnotherconditions.important com ponent of the front kit is the Bendix 6-Piston calipers – with additional pistons compared to OEM calipers, greater pressure is applied to the brake pads.
FROM its early beginnings in 1959 making PTOs, Powauto is currently owned by the multi-national Hydre co Nowgroup.operating as Hydre co Hydraulics, the business has expanded to incorporate a complete range of transport hydraulics which includes PTOs to suit most transmis sions and applications plus a full range of pumps, valves, hoists and oil tanks. In addition to these hy draulic items, Hydreco also offers a range of comple mentary items such as air and electric controls, tail gate swing and body pivot kits, and tail gate and dolly lock air cylinder kits. In a hydraulic system, any pump that meets the flow and system pressure require ments will work equally well. There are different styles of hydraulic pumps, and these will look different; and some pumps are more efficient than others. The real cost of a hydraulic pump may not be in the purchase price but in the cost of operating and maintaining the system over its life.
The most common de sign in use for truck mount ed hydraulic systems is the external gear pump. Gear pumps have the benefit of being constructed of only a few moving parts. This means that they are easy to service, are relatively inex pensive, provide an almost pulseless flow over a wide speed range and are generally more tolerant of contamina tion than other designs. Piston pumps are gener ally used in applications that have a very high pressure re quirement. There are three styles of piston pump: the bent axis, the axial and the radial type. Piston pumps generally have higher pressure capa bilities than the other styles of pump. This is counteract ed by having more moving parts (complexity), requiring tighter tolerances and hav ing lower tolerance to con tamination. This all results in a higher initial cost and the need for better filtration during the operation of the hydraulicHydrecosystem.Powauto has a wide range of gear and piston pumps to suit your application, from 6cc up to 115cc in both uni- and bi-rotational. The Hydreco Powauto range of pumps come with a vast array of available outputs to suit many different applications; from our unique “Powauto” mount to the ISO, DIN and SAEAllstandards.Hydreco PTOs, gear pumps and valves are de signed and engineered in Australia, and manufactured under ISO9001 standards, to meet the harshest conditions – from mine sites in some of the toughest areas in the world, to construction sites in our cities, and agriculture applications where reliability is paramount. Our ancillary range of hoists, tanks, con trols, and piston pumps are sourced from some of the world’s leading manufactur ers and we are proud to put the Hydreco name to these products. Pictured
BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 02 2022 SPONSORED CONTENT DRIVELINE FEATURE 41
THERE ARE DIFFERENT STYLES OF HYDRAULIC PUMPS, AND THESE WILL LOOK DIFFERENT; AND SOME PUMPS ARE MORE EFFICIENT THAN OTHERS. THE REAL COST OF A HYDRAULIC PUMP MAY NOT BE IN THE PURCHASE PRICE BUT IN THE COST OF OPERATING AND MAINTAINING THE SYSTEM OVER ITS LIFE.” Pumping it up since 1959 Your number 1 choice for transport hydraulics Raising your expectations LongHeavylife duty EasyandCompactinstallationefficient Engineered in Australia for Australian conditions Sydney 02 9838 6800 • Perth 08 9377 2211 hydreco.com 1300 HYDRECO There are different styles of hydraulic pumps; and some are more efficient than others. This one is a PUA Gear Pump. Piston pumps are generally used in applications that have a very high pressure requirement.
is the PUBP Piston Pump.
MERCEDES-BENZ Trucks will begin a local evaluation program for the all-electric eActros in Australia early next year.Initially, four eActros trucks will get to work in Australia and one unit will hit the road in New Zealand, with addi tional units to follow. The eActros, which has just been launched in Europe, produces zero local emissions and oper ates near silently. In Europe, there are two versions in operation, one with a range up to 300km, and the other up to 400km. No announcement has been made yet on which model or configuration will be in the lo cal evaulation program, but Big Rigs understands that they will be mainly aimed at metro du ties, with some intrastate work. Hydrogen fuel cell elec tric will take care of the long distance requirements in Aus tralia, believes Daimler Truck Australia Pacific. At this stage, Mercedes-Benz Trucks is not ready to an nounce when the eActros will be made available to customers in Australia and New Zealand. Daimler Truck has exten sive experience with electric commercial vehicles and was the first manufacturer with an all-electric truck when the Fuso eCanter broke new ground when it was launched locally in Customers2021.on both sides of the Tasman Sea have embraced the all-electric eCanter, appre ciating the near smooth and quiet operation, active safety features, ease of use and orig inal equipment manufacturer backing.Mercedes-Benz Trucks Aus tralia Pacific director, Andrew Assimo, says he is excited to start the local evaluation pro gram for eActros as part of a drive towards CO2-neutral goods“Wetransport.areexcited to conduct this extensive testing program on the roads of Australia and New Zealand for the advanced and innovative all-electric eAc tros, a truck that represents an exciting new chapter for sus tainable road transport in our region,” said “Mercedes-BenzAssimo.Trucks al ways makes sure the advanced technology we introduce lo cally is tailored for our unique conditions and meets the spe cific requirements of our cus tomers with extensive local evaluation and it is no differ ent with zero emission electric technology.”Daimler Truck is com mitted to advancing battery electric technology for trucks and buses, but is also work ing on hydrogen fuel cell technology that is well suited to Australian requirements of longer distances at higher weights. While hydrogen fuel cell trucks are currently being tested they are still some years away from introduction. Bat tery electric Mercedes-Benz trucks are already in produc tion and out on the road with leading European fleets. The focus of the eActros is for heavy-duty short radius distribution and development trucks have been working away in select fleets in Europe sinceAssimo2018.said Mercedes-Benz Trucks is excited to fulfill cus tomer demand and bring the all-electric eActros to Australia and New Zealand. “Our key customers are very passionate about ad vanced electric heavy vehicles and we are thrilled to begin the evaluation program that will ensure our electric Actros will succeed in our market,” he said.“We are excited to help our customers along their emis sion reduction pathways with class-leading Original Equip ment Manufacturer (OEM) trucks that are genuine work horses and carry out their work in near silence producing zero local withTrucksWhileemissions.”Mercedes-Benziskeentomoveforwardbatteryelectrictechnolo gy, it is also proud to help tra ditional internal combustion engine customers drive down theirMercedes-Benzemissions. Trucks led the way in Australia with the first full range of Euro 6 heavy trucks with the new Actros in 2016 and the truck’s remark able fuel efficiency is renowned across the industry. Further improvements of the Mer cedes-Benz diesel Actors en gines are also soon on the way.Initially, four eActros trucks will get to work in Australia.
42 NEWS FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 02 2022 BIGRIGS.COM.AU
Electric Mercedes-Benz trucks arriving soon
The eActros operates near silently and has a range of up to 400km.
THE industry’s at it again. Recently, WA’s peak trucking body – the Western Roads Fed eration wrote to Federal Trans port Minister Catherine King seeking to have truck driving included on the Priority Skills Migration List. In 2013, the ATA sent a similar but unsuccessful re quest to the Australian Work force and Productivity Agency with a recommendation that “heavy vehicle drivers be placed on the Skilled Occupation List to enable foreign drivers to ap ply for 457 visas, to help the industry to meet the growing freightWhilsttask.”there’s no disputing the existence of critical driver shortages – particularly in WA, the issue’s hardly a new one with 2013 forecasts predicting nearly half the then truck driv er workforce being over 65 by 2026 and high-level retirement likely post Despite2016.countless industry think tanks – now, in 2022, seemingly little’s been achieved to alleviate driver shortages, particularly when it comes to femaleTherecruitment.questionthen must be asked: Why is the industry’s goto international drivers, rath er than women who, in 2022 comprise 50-plus per cent of the Australian population? The answers, which look and sound awfully like gender bias, can be found in the pages of the ATA’s 2013 submission which reached conclusions we’d expect to see a century earlier in 1913.Here, the author determined that “not only could the percep tion of a ‘boys’ club’ culture be off-putting to women, but the lifestyle inherent with heavy vehicle driving could be at odds with some women’s ambitions to socialise and have families.”
COLUMN 43
Gender bias continues to hamper recruitment drive WOMEN IN TRUCKING LYNDAL DENNY CEO, Women in Trucking Australia Based in Queensland, MC driver Sienna Hickkey has been a truckie for the past four years. NEVER POLISH YOUR WHEELS AGAIN WITH SUPERCHROME™ ALLOY WHEELS YOUR RIG CAN LOOK GOOD ALL YEAR ROUND Fit your rig with wheels that will resist gravel sandblasting and chemicals. The hard chrome surface on Superchrome wheels reduces all wheel wear. Call Superchrome on 02 9060 1610 or visit us at www.superchrome.com.au 7 year chrome warranty on all Cwheels leans and shines in just 41 seconds BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 02 2022
On the flip side, current esti mates show the cost of bringing international drivers in under Temporary Skill Shortage Visas to be negligible; hence it’s wide spread appeal throughout the sector. This cheap-is-best ide ology is in line with the ATA’s 2013 submission conclusion citing “cost” as the over-riding factor when considering driver recruitment options. To address safety concerns many Australian truckies have regarding international drivers, the WRF in its recent ministe rial proposal put forward a raft of training proposals. Interest ingly, the most critical – the ability to competently speak and comprehend English – was glaringly absent. In order to correctly com plete/comply with the legal requirements of the National Work Diary for example, a 4 out of 5 English language skill rating is required and funda mental to safe driving, vehicle compliance and safe use of equipment.Froma safety perspective, when it comes to international drivers, it appears the promised checks and balances simply don’tTheexist.time has come for the industry to take responsibility for training and replenishing diminishing driver stocks; to begin stepping-up and sup porting female-friendly re cruitment practices, creating a robust grow-your-own cul ture that recognises the readi ly available pool of Australian women seeking to pursue truckingWomencareers.inTrucking Aus tralia regularly fields calls from self-funded, inexperienced fe male truck drivers earning a living in other sectors, women unable to get a foot in the door of their chosen career. Gender bias continues to impact nega tively on their efforts – a reality supported by countless stories of being overlooked at recruit ment in favour of their male counterparts.Indoing their bit, WiTA’s proposed “Foot in the Door” program – with an expected launch in late 2022, will focus on bridging the license-to-em ployment gap by engaging with forward-thinking industry and training stakeholders to drive improved outcomes nationally for women with this fit-forpurpose training initiative. Utilising state, territory and commonwealth funding, it’s hoped this recruitment path way will finally enable women to take control of their truck ing careers. Just how long the industry continues to pretend women can’t drive trucks how ever is a question we all need to think long and hard about.
The TWU is calling for urgent reform to ensure all transport workers have proper rights with safe standards that are enforced to address the deadly nature in the industry. We have the starting point, the ten industry backed rec ommendations from Senator Sterle’s inquiry into the trans portNobodyindustry.in government has implemented these rec ommendations which aim to set fair standards for the in dustry.Ifwe want to reduce truck workplace deaths, reduce driver fatigue, tackle wage theft, ensure migrant drivers are not exploited, encourage young drivers and female drivers into our industry and ensure transport operators are paid on time we need also to see clients held to account to ensure fairer and safer con tracts.We need to address the fi nancial pressures the industry faces from rising fuel costs and rising Transurban toll road costs with a push to achieve ‘same job, same pay’ across the industry. We need the legislative support to ensure payments are made on time as well.The TWU has joined a transport industry alliance calling on the Albanese gov ernment to restore the fuel tax credits scheme abolished by its predecessor.Weneedto prevent a col lapse of national supply chains and an expected surge in deadly pressure on our roads, as road transport braces for cost spikes once the fuel excise returns in full in September.
The TWU in NSW has pushed for and won some re lief in NSW in the Industrial Relations Commission for an increase to the rates paid un der the General Carriers Con tract Determination in NSW. This has been providing some relief to owner-drivers in terms of your cost recovery for doing the job. The figures get reviewed every month and that means on August 15 an other rate increase was added for Iowner-drivers.wanttoremind you that the Senate report, which was compiled from in-depth twoyear inquiry which heard of horror stories about the dead ly pressures to work fatigued, speed and skip rest breaks, stated “the central recommen dation of this committee, and the submitters, is for the estab lishment of a central powerful independent body to regulate, promote, fund and support all parts of the sector.” Given that the LNP gov ernment tore down a road safety watchdog in 2016 and subsequently 263 truck driv ers have been killed at work it is important that all drivers (owner and employee) have their rights protected, have their voices heard and that they can raise problems when they need to for fairness and safety.There is no reason for us to be having a conversation any more about the Senator Sterle recommendations.Weallknowwhat is need ed, the recommendations need to be implemented. I am very worried there will be no meaningful decrease in the road toll from heavy vehi cle crashes until that occurs.
We need to prevent a collapse of supply chains and an expected surge in deadly pressure on our roads.
THIS year alone, 32 truck drivers have died on the job. There are grieving families and the Transport Workers’ Union (TWU) extends its sympathies to all those left behind.These deaths show there is a problem in the industry, that is not going away, and is being met with too much silence from people like the federal government.
Death toll underlines issues PETRO Industrial can design, engineer, manufacture, custom fit equipment, deliver, commission and do on-site maintenance service. Perfect Plug-n-Play solutions! STORAGE DISPENSING MONITORING 1300 987 789 | sales@petroindustrial.com.au | www.petroind.com PETRO Self-bunded Storage Tanks Fluid Management Systems Dispensing Equipment Spare MaintenanceParts Service FUEL TWU NEWS RICHARD OLSEN TWU NSW/QLD State Secretary TRANSPORTBROTHERTON JAMESEDITORGRAHAM james.graham@bigrigs.com.au TASSIE TRUCKIN’ JON WALLIS contributors@bigrigs.com.au TWU RICHARDNEWSOLSEN TWU NSW State Secretary LEGAL ROWANEAGLEKING Principal Lawyer RK Law 44 COLUMN FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 02 2022 BIGRIGS.COM.AU
COLUMN 45
Tackling how to transition Victorian Transport
away from fossil fuels VTA COMMENT PETER ANDERSON CEO,
Viva Energy’s hydrogen refuelling station in Geelong is expected to open in 2023
www.safholland.com.au SAF-HOLLAND (Aust.) Pty. Ltd ABN: 79004371215 | Sales: 1300 131 613 Email: sales@safholland.com.au SAF-HOLLAND is one of the leading global manufacturers and suppliers of high-quality axles and suspension systems, fifth wheels, kingpins, coupling products and landing gear to the commercial vehicles industry. Coupling & Lifting TechnologiesTrailer Axles and Suspension Systems Trailer Axles and Suspension Systems Couplings Powered Vehicle Suspensions Available in disc and drum Available in disc and drum Intra DuratracSeriesSeries FW351 Mark V PH300OC50FS2 50mm–90mm E551B0M PARTS ON DEMAND WHAT YOU NEED, WHEN YOU NEED IT SAF HOLLAND ORIGINAL PARTS TOWING SYSTEMS BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 02 2022
THE VTA was thrilled to recently host an Alternative Fuels Summit to tackle the important challenge of how our industry can start the im portant transition away from traditional fossil fuels. The road freight industry is dependent upon diesel fuel to provide the services that all of the population needs. Our trucks need fuel to operate. We need consistency of sup ply, predictable costs and a return on effort and invest ment. Our sources of energy are changing and the nature of fuel will look very different in the not so distant future. Changes to Earth’s climate driven by increased carbon emissions are already having widespread effects on the en vironment. But as these effects accelerate their impact, they have become more noticeable and more measurable. Global climate change is not a future problem. It is something that is being dealt with now. Stop ping or repairing the effects of mankind on this earth is a goal that is a long way off. What we do today will have a significant effect on the gener ations that will come after us. As our actions and atti tudes towards slowing the effects of climate change also start to accelerate, it becomes apparent that the challenges of change become more con fronting. We would all like all the climate problems fixed, but to what level of disruption in my day-to-day life. We don’t all want to become Climate Warriors but we do want to face our surementofenergyprocessdependentficultearlythefectwesibilities.fuelsdependenceReducingresponsibilities.ourindustry’soncarbon-basedisoneofthoseresponAcknowledgingthatcanreducethenegativeefofcarbonemissionsfromburningofdieselisanstep.Butitisaverydifstep.Wehavebecomeupontheeaseofinmaintainingthissourceandmethodsoperation,businessmeaandlevelsofservice
expectations rest firmly in the steady supply of diesel. We focus on its cost, think rarely about supply disruptions and have not been supplied with any relevant alternative. As I said to delegates at the summit: why should I worry about climate change? The answer is simple – change is coming and coming very quickly.Change can be difficult. Difficult to understand, diffi cult to foresee and difficult to adapt. Understanding what we can do in our industry and our businesses is a vital first step in acknowledging any change. The Alternative Fuels Sum mit was planned from a per spective of zero understanding. Knowing that the movement to reduce emissions is grow ing, all road transport opera tors should now be planning and estimating what level of action and commitment they will need to take to meet their future responsibilities. It is very confronting. How will I operate without diesel? How will I meet my current or future capital commitments? What will it cost my business to change? Will my customers be willing to pay more for the sameTheservice?summit provided di rection and confidence for operators to be able to un derstand what the future will look like. Our expert pre senters took delegates on a journey - Why change our energy source, what fuels will be available in the future, what can the government do, what will transition look like and what products are available now.It was terrific to hear about the exciting developments from fuel companies like Viva Energy who are leading the transport industry in tran sitioning to alternative fuels like hydrogen, that right now is being deployed to power heavyVivavehicles.isdoing terrific work in making hydrogen available to freight operators with is charging hub in Geelong well on its way to becoming oper ational and able to fuel hydro gen buses, and heavy, waste and recovery vehicles. And of course, equipment providers like Volvo, Daimler, Hyzon and SEA Electric are already manufacturing vehicles that can tap into electric and hy drogen fuelling technology. With the recent change of government and the sub sequent legislation of a lower emissions reduction target of 43 per cent (based on 2005 emissions), the industry’s ac celeration towards alternative fuels will rapidly increase. Operators that start to plan for the transition early will benefit from early-adoption to the equipment, fuels, and technology of the not-too-dis tant future.
Association
BY HEAVY VEHICLE INDUSTRY AUSTRALIA
Discover how to reduce your maintenance and fuel costs TRY THE CALCULATOR HERE orwww.shell.com.au/savingscalculatorscantheQRcode 46 COLUMN FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 02 2022 BIGRIGS.COM.AU
Long slow path to PBS reform takes shape
IT has been a long time com ing, but the necessary pieces of the puzzle for the future of PBS are finally coming to gether.The Performance Based Standards (PBS) scheme has been the best safety, produc tivity, and environmental innovation in the road trans port sector since the introduc tion of B-doubles in the early 1980’s.The PBS marketplace re port released by the National Transport Commission in 2017 demonstrated the com pelling case for PBS vehicles. It said they could generate productivity improvements of between 15 and 30 Percent (typically over 20%), while improving safety, reducing fuel consumption, reducing emissions and reducing wear and tear on the road system. As successful as PBS has been, however, Heavy Vehicle Industry Australia (HVIA) has long argued for improve ments to the PBS system. HVIA initially argued for fitting of advanced braking systems to PBS vehicle in 2016; we called for improve ments to the certification pro cess and access decision mak ing processes, network access improvements and ADR ex emptions in 2017, and first raised the issue of PBS tyres in 2018.HVIA’s members, and in particular the consulting en gineers and trailer manufac turers, have been a big part of bringing these benefits to the community.Since2018, HVIA and its members have worked with the NHVR on the review of PBS tyres, and the reviews of the PBS standards, but prog ress on these issues has been slow.We have also worked with our members on promoting the PBS scheme more broad ly through training and in formation sessions to spread the word about the scheme’s immense economic, produc tivity and safety benefits. There has been some progress with the NHVR on improving PBS application processing, and with NHVR and the jurisdictions on ac cessTheimprovements.NHVRhas intro duced streamlined processes for some common combi nation types and the propor tion of the network covered by PBS notices has increased in recent years but there is more work to be done. Meanwhile, HVIA mem bers have also continued the process of innovation, with new PBS combinations be coming available on a regular basis delivering vehicles and combinations that set new benchmarks for safety and productivity.Attheirmeeting August 5, Federal and State Transport Ministers endorsed some key recommendations for the review of the Heavy Ve hicle National Law (HVNL) which touch on access re form for PBS. The NHVR expects to announce implementation details for the Revised Di rectional Stability Under Braking (DSUB) and Pave ment Horizontal Load ing standards (PHLS) and the new Generic PBS Tyre scheme over the next couple of months.TheNational Heavy Vehi cle Regulator (NHVR) is also expected to release an options paper for Phase 2 of the PBS marketplace review and their PBS 2.0 Discussion Paper over the coming months. Once all these changes are on the table, we will have a clearer understanding of the priorities for the next phase of the reform of the PBS scheme.The imminent release of the DSUB, and PBS Tyre initiatives will lead to some short-term changes which will be welcomed by many in the industry.Ministerial endorsement towards improving certainty of access for PBS vehicles, and a move to take common and proven PBS combinations out of the PBS approval process are important steps forward. However, HVIA recogniz es that there is further work required to ensure that the regulatory agencies live up to the agreements by Ministers. One of the main problems with the initial PBS imple mentation was road managers insistence on separate, more restrictive networks for PBS vehicles. Ensuring that those same road managers live up to the Ministers’ commitments will be a big challenge. As always HVIA remains committed to working with our members, their custom ers (i.e. road transport oper ators), regulators and other stakeholders, to facilitate and remove the roadblocks to in novation.Why?So that we can bring safer, more productive and more efficient heavy vehicles to market for the benefit of all Australians. As successful as PBS has been, however, HVIA has long argued for improvements to the PBS system.
Compressor Fridge
30L
No matter where or when - Rest cool & easy with Webasto
I RECENTLY represented the Australian Trucking As sociation (ATA) at the gov ernment’s Surface Transport Roundtable ahead of the Jobs and Skills Summit in Canber ra from September 1-2. The roundtable was built around three themes: • Addressing skills shortages • Regulatory roadblocks and opportunities • Transition to net zero The ATA ensured that the voices of the trucking indus try were heard loud and clear, explaining that the trucking industry faces a critical short age of skilled ommendationsworkers.toaddress the situation, including: • (ANZSCO) rather than skill level 4. Adding truck driving to the sue of regulatory roadblocks and opportunities, arguing that the existing heavy vehicle
Air
Cool Split 20 High Performance 2kW cooling, very low noise, low profile, light weight, rear or roof mounted 12 or 24v Air Conditioning. Fresco 3000 Low profile, light weight, DC powered, rear mount 12 or 24v Conditioning.Air 16L Fridge/Freezer Drawer Fridge Drawer 49L Upright Fridge Compact with multiple installation options. Isotherm Cool Top RTE 16 High performance, 1.6kW, lightweight, low profile, roof mounted 24v electric parking cooler. Cooling without engine idling. Integrated low voltage battery cut-off ensures engine re-start. Easy Installation via vehicle roof hatch. Top 2000 STC 2 kW Diesel Fired Cab Heater for non idling heating. Powerful, quiet, fast & compact.
Webasto Authorised Installer Network AutoCrowhurstElectrical 6 Highgate St Auburn 2144 02 9748 0488 Wagga Car Radio 379 Edward St Wagga Wagga 2650 02 6925 6111 Mavin Truck Centre 5 Woolford Cres Kempsey 2440 02 6562 6211 AAA Cooling & Trimming 9 Catalina 0417TullamarineDr3043858009 Trans Air & Electrics VIC & Albury 0429 842 644 Wicko's ElectricsAuto South West VIC & South East SA 0419 305 114 Air Control RefrigerationTransport 12 Alice BassendeanSt 6054 08 9279 9944 Heavylec 587 South Rd Regency Park 5010 08 8347 4246 Wakefield Trucks 1174-1180 Port Wakefield Dr Burton 5110 08 8280 8133 NSW NSW VIC VIC WA QLD SA Webasto Thermo & Comfort Australia Pty Ltd 1800 244 494 | svc-info@webasto.com For more Webasto Australia-wide Service Partners www.webasto.comvisit: All products are supplied with a 2 year warranty Mr Cool Automotive 41 Black St Milton 4064 07 3188 4349 Trucking industry voices heard loud and clear ATA CHAIR DAVID AustralianSMITHTrucking Association The ATA argued that the existing heavy vehicle driver licensing system is not fit for purpose. IT WAS ARGUED THAT THE COMPLEXITY OF THE FATIGUE RULES AND THE SEEMINGLY RANDOM PENALTIES DISCOURAGE PEOPLE FROM WORKING AS DRIVERS.” BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 02 2022
The ATA also highlighted the flaws in the Heavy Vehi cle National Law, including
• Support the Austroads re view of the heavy vehicle driver competency frame their hours of driving. • Press the states to complete the HVNL review and amend the law accordingly. The Austroads Consulta tion Regulation Impact State ment is open for feedback until October 28 and is open to all feedback. I urge you to participate.TheATA also appreciat ed the opportunity to discuss the challenge of transitioning to net zero emission vehicles, stating that Australia needs a clear national strategy on the I’m hoping the Surface t Roundtable and the subsequent Jobs and Skills crete solutions to the issues
COLUMN 47
48 FEATURE
BY ALF WILSON IT may just have 10km of bi tumen road network, but Palm Island in north Queensland relies on trucks to ensure sup plies are delivered and con struction and infrastructure work can continue. The water surround ed fortress of Palm Island is 48 nautical miles across the azure Coral Sea from main land Townsville and is nestled amongst the famous Great Barrier Reef. To get there, trucks have to travel by barge across the briny from Lucinda and many make the 90-minute trip daily with goods and material. The Palm Island Aborigi nal Shire Council has a large fleet of trucks which require localRecentlydrivers. brothers Isaac and David Geia successfully gained their HR licence after assistance from trainer Mar shallCostaNielsen.Sam, Brent Sibley, Thaddeus Sam and Neville Bonner completed their class 1 theory before taking their testPlantdrive.operator training has helped council work towards building local staff confidence and capacity with skills that help to fulfil work priorities andSomestability.of the others who have participated include Bil lo Wotton (forklift training); Lenin Yasserie (telehandler training); Paul Kidner (exca vator training) and Ron Geia jnr (forklift loading and un loading).Billo Wotton gained sev en plant tickets last month as part of council building locals skills and capacity train ing with trainer Marshall Nielsen of Industry Training Queensland.‘Bunge’,as he is known to the locals, has spent the last four weeks putting the team of 25 through their training in various tickets and licences. Funding support came from Gabrielle Dorward of the Local Government As sociation of Queensland (LGAQ), who has been work ing with Palm Council’s man ager for training, enterprise civil and open spaces, Janelle Whitehead.“Theresults have been outstanding with all staff suc cessfully completing training in forklift, backhoe, frontend loader skid steer, excavator, confined spaces, working at heights, telehandler, and chainsaws. There has also been six additional HR licenc es within the council staff,” said“TheWhitehead.delivery in partner ship of the three organisations has been life-changing for our islandOvercommunity.”thedecades Palm Island has been the home of some legendary truck drivers such as Frank ‘Deacon’ James, Josh Geia, Rodger ‘Bully’ McKean, and Lloyd Morgan, to name a Deaconfew.had driven the lo cal rubbish truck for decades, Geia was well-known for driv ing heavy vehicles which cart ed material for shore resto ration work, while Bully and Lloyd are household names there.
Palm Island has a perma nent population of about 2500 with many more trav elling there by ferry from the mainland regularly to visit family and friends. It is a genuine tropical is land paradise and fish abound in nearby Visitorswaters.can also enjoy a snack or cold drink at the Coolgaree Bar and Grill which is beside the Esplanade with water at high tide reaching to the back of the garden area.
THE DELIVERY IN PARTNERSHIP OF THE THREE ORGANISATIONS HAS BEEN LIFE-CHANGING FOR OUR JANELLECOMMUNITY.”ISLANDWHITEHEAD FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 02 2022 BIGRIGS.COM.AU
David Geia with Indigenous driver trainer Brett. Kevin Morgan helps keep the wheels turning on Palm Island. Paul Kidner shows his skills on the excavator. Isaac Geia with trainer Marshall Nielsen of Industry Training Queensland.
RealRealServicePeopleRealExperienceRealInsurance Solutions 02 6925 8788 www.tbiinsurance.com.au Transport & Business insurance Services Pty Ltd t/as TBI Insurance Services ABN 22 622 458 593 – CAR# 1262074 Corporate Authorised Representative of Aviso Select Pty Ltd t/as Aviso Select - AFSL #239049 - ABN 37 097 567 710 7036762aj Tropical island transport workers celebrate success 1800 625 746
AFTER seeing Troy Valentine climb down from the driver’s seat of his Kenworth T909 I noticed he was walking with a limp.SoI asked the friendly and courteous truckie what his ail ment was and he was happy to yarn about it. “I need a hip replacement but the doctors can’t do it un til April next year. It is painful and I am counting the days,” he said.The 49-year-old truckie said he was told the long-time wait was because he was too young for such surgery which normally occurs with much olderValentinepatients.works for Row an Hall Transport, based at Gracemere, and was carrying military equipment on his tri ple road train. On one of the trailers was an Army truck – and the triple looked great when Valentine pulled up at the Townsville Port Access Road. “I have been a truckie for 27 years and with this compa ny for the past two. They are good to work for,” he said. Valentine was heading off to Yalbaroo in the NT and had a backload of cotton to pick up on the way back for delivery to Dalby.He said he likes stopping at the Charlton BP Roadhouse near Toowoomba on his trav els.“It is good there for us driv ers,” he Valentinesaid. added there should be more suitable rest areas for Regardingtruckies.Covid-19, which has affected so many drivers, Valentine said he hadn’t suf fered from it yet. “I have had the vaccinations including the boosters.”Likemany truckies, Valen tine loves nothing better than to go fishing along the water ways around Hervey Bay when he gets time off. Valentine said it was a good life being a truckie and that he’s met “many characters” whilst travelling the highways andAsbyways.forthe NRL, Valentine is a parochial West Tigers sup porter and has to reflect back to 2005 when they won their lastIpremiership.hadtofeel sympathy for Valentine because of his hip problem.Buthe should be a new man following his surgery.
Troy Valentine drives a Kenworth T909 for Rowan Hall Transport, pulling triples.
Alex Namoga (left) in his bout with Josh Salazar.
FOR the past five years, box er Alex Namoga has been working as a diesel fitter for the Townsville City Council, mostly repairing trucks. Recently, Namoga won the lightweight 70kg division of the Knuckleman Series VII Boxing Series at the Ross Is land Hotel in Townsville. “I have worked for the council mainly repairing tipper trucks and enjoy it. I completed my apprenticeship there. But I also like boxing and have had amateur fights,” he told Big Rigs. A crowd of about 900 packed into the back section of the historical Ross Island Hotel to watch some tough boxing bouts. “It was fairly brutal. My opponent was good and I was glad to win,” he said. His opponent was a soldier from Townsville’s Lavarack Barracks.The promoter of the Knuckleman event was Matty Rooney, who is a security offi cer and part-time truck driver. “People love these Knuck leman nights and I have sever al a year,” Rooney said. Namoga, who came to Australia from the Solomon Islands 13 years ago, is a mem ber of Rooney’s Knuckles Club.Ihear that the next Knuck leman contest will include a section for “Tough Truckies”. Only truck drivers will be eligible to enter this division and Spy will keep you posted.
DRIVER PROFILES 49 with Alf WilsonTruckin’ In The Tropics
Alex Namoga Troy Valentine Alex Namago with his belt.
BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 02 2022 ALL TARP KITS ORDERED COME WITH A FREE MERCH PROMO PACK! USE PROMO CODE “GET COVERED” WHEN ORDERING New Black Edition Gearboxes designed for the Aussie Market NEW HEAVY-DUTY GEARBOXES! DIRECT DRIVE SYSTEMSSINGLE ARM WALKING FLOOR KITS
By George, it’s a blitz Regular users of the East Tam ar Highway in Tasmania have sent in reports of what looks like a traffic blitz by the po lice.A scenic little town, Georgetown is on the coast of Bass Strait at the mouth of TamarEastRiver.Tamar Highway runs from Launceston to George town and some tell Spy a blitz is welcome.TheTassie police recently had new patrol cars added to their fleet – a Kia Stinger, and a Volkswagon model which are high powered and suited to intercept.“Patrolcars were taken out of the fleet for a while which seems to have been a back ward step. This year Tasma nia’s road toll was 35 at the start of August which is quite high,” one driver said. Put into perspective, that is the number of road deaths re corded for full years between 2012 to 2021. The Tamar Highway has always been well used for speed checks, especially the old amphometer tapes, as there are several downhill stretches where overruns can easily happen. Diesel prices concern Why does diesel fuel cost more in most places around Austra lia than unleaded petrol? That has been the sub ject of conversation amongst truckies I have spoken to at roadhouses and rest areas. One pointed out that where he fuelled up in WA, diesel was 40 cents per litre dearer.Which was generally the case at venues in other plac es, especially over the past six months.One learned driver blames the war in Ukraine which he says has pushed diesel prices higher.Spy checked some pics snapped a year ago at various roadhouses and diesel and un leaded were almost the same price.Some of the roadhouses listed diesel slightly cheaper. Everybody is hoping the current prices drop in the nottoo-distant future. Stupidity or sympathy Around Australia you will come across many sections of highway where the speed limit drops.Most have warning signs as you enter the slower speed area advising cameras are prevalent as the pic in NSW shows. So if a truckie travelling along one of these sections gets breached for speeding, do you feel sympathy for him or consider him a tad stupid? Anyway that occurred re cently and the culprit was bagging authorities for what he considers blatant revenue raising.However some mates of his weren’t about to feel sorry for him.“The warning sign was there so it is no use crying over spilt milk,” one said. Garden truck a feature When old trucks retire from the highways and byways be cause of age or condition they generally become scrap. Some find other uses in cluding an old Dodge truck which remains a talking point for customers at a riverside eatery at Chinderah, just south of Tweed Heads, near the Queensland border. The B series Dodge was built between 1948 and 1953 and a picture of it was sent to Spy by a retired driver. “I think this is a 1949 mod el complete with a G-Well hy draulic hoist. The owners have made a garden feature of the truck,” he said. It does look impressive and is the subject of plenty of con versation. Toughness boasts In a roadhouse eatery, a small group were involved in a light-hearted conversation about truckies from which part of Australia are the toughest. How anybody could answer that hypothetical question with any degree of accuracy is beyond Spy.
Price of diesel (as seen on August 15), which is much dearer than unleaded. Prices of diesel and unleaded a year ago at Malanda Roadhouse on the Atherton Tablelands. This old tipper has a garden growing from it.
Police blitz welcomed on popular Tassie highway SPY ON THE ROAD WITH ALF WILSON 50 SPY ON THE ROAD
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 02 2022 BIGRIGS.COM.AU
“The truck is having a few repairs done at the moment. Frank has had to replace the timbers in the tray and re vamp the seats. It will come back out the front as soon as he has finished,” Debbie told Spy after numerous truckies had contacted me regarding it. Frank and Debbie were from Biloela, in central Queensland, before they took over the pub at the end of March 2004. Frank had worked in the coal plant at the mine there, and Deb was a travel consul tant.In 2014, they got a phone call from the executive assis tant to the Cornell family, asking if they would like to have the truck – and they jumped at the chance of course.“It’s not every day John Cornell offers you a piece of Australian film history. They gave us the truck and a cer tificate of authenticity signed by both John Cornell and Paul Hogan. All we had to do was pay the freight to get it here,” Frank said at the time. Other stars were John Meillon who played Wal ly the tour guide and Linda Kozlowski, who played a re porter for Newsday America, for whom she travelled Down Under to write a feature on Australia and its people.
BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 02 2022
Crocodile Dundee truck An old International truck which starred in the mov ie Crocodile Dundee and is part of Australian film his tory is undergoing repairs and will be back outside the Walkabout Creek Hotel at McKinlay soon. The pub is run by legend ary outback couple Frank and Debbie Wust and is between Cloncurry and Winton.
Opinions put forward by the Queensland, NT, NSW and Victorian drivers were pretty boring to say the least. But the Tasmanian came up with a reason which nobody expected. “Football players in your states mostly play on grass but in Tasmania at one ground the surface is gravel,” the Apple Isle man Whenquipped.pressed to expand on that, he said that club AFL games at Queenstown in south west Tassie were played on a field with gravel as the surface. “Plenty of gravel rash if you get knocked over,” he said.
A road sign heading towards Georgetown on the East Tamar Highway.
The truck arrived at the Walkabout Creek Hotel on Blinko’s Transport on No vember 9, 2014 and soon ended out the front of the pub to help lure the tourists in for a photo opportunity.
SPY ON THE ROAD 51
A speed camera warning sign on the approach to a reduced speed zone on a NSW highway.The long downward and upward sections on the East Tamar Highway make it ideal for a traffic blitz.
The couple have never met the human star of Croc odile Dundee, Paul Hogan, but have watched the movie a fewTheytimes.are pretty good at answering the flood of questions about Crocodile Dundee which was released in 1986. WA old Chev In our August 5 edition, we ran a piece with a photo about an old Chev which can be found at the historical Coolgardie Railway Station. Since then Katherine Fox, the Coolgardie tourism and heritage coordinator, has sent Spy some additional info about the Chev which has created a lot of interest amongst readers. This truck was donated to the Coolgardie Men’s Shed from a farmer in Lake Grace. The Men’s Shed currently has no restoration plans for thisIttruck.isa flat-bed Canadian Maple Leaf (equivalent to an International).Ifyouhave any further questions, the president of the Coolgardie Men’s Shed, Wayne Bird (0438 267 180) is happy to assist where pos sible. 100-1 winner bonanza It was celebrations all round at Townsville’s Bellevue Hotel recently when a horse named Poetic Attacks won the last race at the local Cluden race course at the amazing odds of 100-1.Itis a popular watering hole for truckies, with its location in south Townsville near the port and industrial area.Publican Wayne Hornby was one of the lads who had a modest flutter on the longpriced winner. “I only had a few bucks each way and had never backed a 100-1 winner be fore. The biggest priced one had been 60-1,” he said. Hornby said a group of people gathered in the beer garden beside the public bar who came in the “tip” for the outsider.“They all cheered when it won,” he said. Aptly earlier on in anoth er race at Cluden, Hornby’s own horse Undoubted had ran like an Angora Goat and finished unplaced. Roadhouse search Old Spy got a surprise call last week from am NT truck ie who was about to travel to South Australia with a load. “Would you happen to know where the Rosewor thy Roadhouse in SA is,” he asked.Itwould have been much easier for the gent to consult Mr Google however being an older type he said he wasn’t into “that computer internet stuff”.Iasked the veteran what made him want such info and he replied, “I was watch ing the races on Sky Channel in the NT and saw a sign mentioning the Roseworthy Roadhouse near the starting boxes before a greyhound race at Gawler. I am heading that way so probably will go there,” he said.
52 PUZZLESBIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY JUNE 26 2020 COLUMNS 87 V1 - IBRE01Z01MA
THIS article is the ending of an era for the transport industry with the demise of this magazine under the restructure and rationalisation of News Corp It is a sad day for all of us in the industry as Big Rigs magazine has been a part of our lives for almost 30 years. For some, their entire careers so far. It will leave huge gap as the editors and staff have supported the industry, provided fair and rational debate and given everyone a fair say in industry doings to all, as well as stories, pictures and news of our people, our trucks and our unsung heroes.Our lives will be the poorer for its demise; being a columnist for Big Rigs for the past year and half has allowed me to fulfil yet another childhood dream, to write, and it has given me great pleasure and I hope it has at least been enjoyed by are focused on the negatives of the industry, I have tried to focus on the in Melbourne.InNovember 2019 we celebrated the 20th Anniversary of the organisation (TWAL) with a fabulous gala dinner at The Windsor Melbourne where we also presented our first four winners of the Driving the Difference scholarships with our amazing sponsor, Daimler Truck and Bus Asia Pacific. We also presented the inaugural Trish Pickering Memorial Award, sponsored by the wonderful Wes Pickering. This was awarded for longterm outstanding contribution by a female to the road transport industry, the inaugural winner was Pam McMillan the longest serving director and chair of Transport Women Australia Limited. This is an annual award and the recipient of the 2020 Trish Pickering Memorial Award will be announced later this year at an event still to be determined.Wehave also launched our Learning Initiatives Breakfast Series with several partners so far, including NTI, MOVE BANK and rt health. In early 2020 the Creating Connections Mentoring program was finally ready to commence with both mentors and mentees signing up to the program.Iwould like to thank the fantastic team at Big Rigs newspaper for their incredible support and wish them ongoing success. I hope that I get the opportunity to continue to work with some of them and so work towards making the trucking industry a better appreciated, and a safer place for our people. positives aspects or those issues about which I am most passionate and have a chance of making a contribution to change.Ibegan writing column when I was returned as Transport Women Australia Limited chair in November 2017. In the interim, TWAL has had many successes and achievements.Ithasexpanded the relationship with Girl Guides Australia and been involved with several successful projects with them, the Victorian Snoozefest in April 2018, the “Great Bag Migration” for the International Jamboree in Sydney in October 2018 and other interactions that are expanding the knowledge of the transport industry.We launched the Women Driving Transport Careers initiative with our partners Wodonga TAFE and Volvo Group at the 2018 TWAL Creating
Fighting to end the inequality: Big Rigs and TWU played their parts THIS is the end of an era, the last TWU column in the trusted transport industry publication Big Rigs Over the years the TWU and Big Rigs have played their parts in the role of keeping the top end of town accountable and doing our bit to look out for the rights of the little guy. It’s still about the voice that speaks out for the truck driver, TRAILERS MOORE MOORE PITTSWORTH PHONE(07)4693 1088 More Trailer For YourMoney Fax(07)46931545 x(07)46931545 email:sales@mooretrailer s.com.auwww.mooretrailer email:sales@mooretrailers.com.au s.com.au GENERAL KNOWLEDGE EASYSUDOKU HARD Across 1 Former Iranian leader 4 Pacifies 9 Fish 11 Sound car horn 12 Concerning 13 Story 14 Notion 15 At no time 19 Replenish 21 Tibetan priest 25 Lyric poems 26 Sheeplike 28 Weary 29 Fresh 30 Harsh 31 Wagers Down 1 Cicatrice 2 Fireplace shelf 3 Embellish 5 Garb 6 Burden 7 Burrowing animal 8 Place 10 Part of a cask’s side 16 Rubber 17 Relish 18 Ink spots 20 Plaintive cry 22 Mine entrance 23 Nothing more 24 Church seating 27 Meshed fabric containsbox3x3androweverycolumn,everysogridtheFill 9.to1digitsthe HARDEASY QUICKCROSSWORD Across:1Shah,4Calms,9Cod,11Toot,12About,13Tale,14Idea,15 Never,19Renew,21Lama,25Odes,26Ovine,28Tire,29New,30Stern, 31Bets. Down:1Scar,2Hob,3Adorn,5Attire,6Load,7Mole,8Stead,10Stave, 16Eraser,17Enjoy,18Blots,20Whine,22Adit,23Mere,24Pews,27Net. Across 1 What
perhaps
Whilesome.somany
long way to go – we have been through countless road, freight and transport ministers and nothingTruckchanges.drivers are still dying at work.It’sa pretty safe bet to say this is due to the lack of strong government policy in place, policy that should be keeping safe one of the most dangerous industries in Australia. To quote one truck driver turned Australian senator, Glenn Sterle, “a death at work or on the road should not be the price of doing business”.
food
10 What
20 To bring upon oneself, is to do what (5) 21 Which term describes a beautiful or graceful young woman (5) 23 What is a type of security over property (4) GENERALKNOWLEDGE Across:1Clinic,8Omnivore,9Dorsal,10Absinthe,11 Nelson,13Ditherer,16Meteoric,19Orient,22Zeppelin, 24Income,25Misspent,26Earthy. Down:2Loose,3Nests,4Colander,5Gnus,6Avenue, 7Archie,12Lift,14Taconite,15Rome,17Eyelid,18El Paso,20Incur,21Nymph,23Lien. 1234 5 6 7 8 9 10 1112 1314 15 161718 192021 22 23 24 25 26 CALMSSHAH TOOTSCOD TALEABOUT IDEAARR DNEVER RENEWB PHJLAMA OVINEODES NEWYTIRE BETSSTERN 123 45678 9 10 11 12 13 14 151617 18 19 20 212223 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 02 2022 BIGRIGS.COM.AU
known
9 Name
Sad day for all in transport
The TWU puts it to governments that we must stop the inequality that exists between truck drivers and clients. Drivers must be paid proper rates, owner-drivers must be able to trust they will be paid properly for the work they do and on time. Families depend on Manythis. of the ongoing problems that occur are down to the big clients squeezing our industry as dry as they can. They want operators to meet their unrealistic deadlines and take on more freight for less or they face the risk of losing their contracts and the ability to support their families.Itappears the government does not Therecare.are unsafe vehicles, dodgy licences, poor payment times, wage and superannuation theft – just a few of the many things we have called for to be stopped. A reminder to governments and the transport industry clients: the industry that has kept Australia moving during the pandemic is facing an uphill battle.Employer groups should be standing alongside transport workers to unite for a safer and fairer industry.
8 Which
CELEBRATING ACHIEVEMENTS: Jacquelene Brotherton (far right) enjoys a night of celebration at a Transport Women Limited event with (from left) Rachel Hesse, Paul Fleiszig and Coralie Chapman. Picture: Contributed is a medical centre as (6) person eats all kinds of (8) the fin on the back of a whale, (6) is a strong, bitter, green-coloured aromatic liqueur (8) 11 Name a wrestling grip (6) 13 What do we call one who trembles with excitement (8) 16 To be transiently brilliant, is to be what (8) 19 The east is known as the what (6) 22 What is a large dirigible (8) 24 Name another term for revenue (6) 25 For money to be squandered, it is to be what (8) 26 To be of the nature of soil, is to be what (6) Down 2 To be lax in conduct, is to be what (5) 3 What are bird structures (5) 4 What is a strainer for draining off liquids in cookery (8) 5 What are wildebeests otherwise called (4) 6 Name a double row of trees, whether lining a road or not (6) 7 What is a male name (6) 12 Name another term for an elevator (4) 14 What is a low-grade iron ore (8) 15 Which Italian city was not built in a day (4) 17 What serves to cover the eyeball (6) 18 Name a western Texas city, on the Rio Grande (2,4)
A final reminder to all Big Rigs readers: now is the time to unite, now is the time to ensure equality in this industry. Together we can stand on common ground working to ensure the government continues to support transport workers and the industry they support.TheTWU will continue to voice the needs of transport workers to the employers, their industry bodies and the clients.Better standards mean job security and ultimately a safer and fairer industry for all. We can lift the standards we need together – our lives depend on it.
Aside from the truck event, there will also be live music, a tractor, and plenty of food and drink. All proceeds go towards local community groups and projects. Gates open from 10am. For more information, contact Allan Carmichael on 0447 953 982, or Lonni Grimwood lonnigrimwood@gmail.com.on Matty Hillcoat’s Truckies’ Day OctoberOut8, 2022 Gympie coatstruckiesdayoutfacebook.com/mattyhillShowgrounds
QTA Road Freight Indus try OctoberAwards8, 2022 Royal International Con vention Centre, awards-brisbaneroad-freight-industry-qta.com.au/events/qta-Brisbane
Convoy For Kids Goul Novemberburn 19 Goulburn, com.auconvoyforkidsgoulburn.NSW
Save the date for these major industry events
The Queensland Trucking Association’s annual awards aim to celebrate those in the state’s road freight industry who have displayed excel lence, dedication and com mitment to their roles. This year’s event will feature guest speaker Dr Craig Challen OAM, the Australian cave diver who was instrumental in saving a soccer team of 12 boys and their coach in the 2018 Thai cave rescue.
Rotary volunteers check out some of the trucks at last year’s Castlemaine Rotary Truck Show. Photos: Facebook 2021 Convoy For Kids Goulburn. state’s
OCTOBER Lights on the Hill Convoy October 1-2, 2022 Gatton, lightsonthehill.com.auQueensland
The annual memorial convoy offers drivers and their families an opportunity to get together with other truckies while celebrating the contribution that truck ies make to the country. The convoy will take place on the Saturday of the event and the memorial service will be held on the Sunday at the Lake Apex Memorial wall.
This fun day out for truckies and their families helps to raise money for River’s Gift and SIDS research.
NOVEMBER Brisbane Convoy For Kids November 5, 2022 Brisbane, com.aubrisbaneconvoyforkids.Queensland
The QTA Road Freight Industry Awards will celebrate the
The lead truck from the
The Australian Logistics Council has teamed up with HERE Technologies to deliver this event, focusing on how using innovation will help to drive sustainable supply chains.
road freight industry. Advertise your available positions with THE TRUSTED VOICE OF THE TRANSPORT INDUSTRY Reach potential employees through NATIONALLY DISTRIBUTED PRINT, ONLINE and SOCIAL MEDIA PETER HOCKINGS 0410 334 peter.hockings@primecreative.com.au371 NEED STAFF? DON’T MISS OPPORTUNITYTHIS WHAT’S ON 53BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 02 2022
This truck convoy runs Larapinta to Redcliffe, followed by a fun-filled fam ily day, which will include truck awards, live enter tainment and a spectacular fireworks display, all to raise money for a very worthy cause.
Convoy for Kids Goulburn provides support for local children with cancer, termi nal illness and permanent disabilities, by providing financial assistance to their families. For the first time in two years, the Convoy Carnival Day will be run in its entirety, with a Guinness World Record attempt for the largest parade of trucks, entertainment and plenty of kids activities. Illawarra illawarraconvoy.com.auIllawarra,NovemberConvoy20,2022NSW
Touted as the largest truck and motorbike convoy in the Southern Hemisphere, the Illawarra Convoy raises funds for individuals and families affected by po tentially life threatening medical conditions, together with charities that work with these people, and local hospitals. Castlemaine Rotary Truck NovemberShow 26-27, 2022 Castlemaine, castlemainetruckshow.comVictoria
SEPTEMBER ALC Technology Summit September 15, 2022 Melbourne, austlogistics.com.au/eventsVictoria
This is the 34th year for the annual Castlemaine Rotary Truck Show, which celebrates the important contribution of the trucking industry, with entertain ment on offer for the whole family. Event proceeds will go towards local youth and community projects. Have you got an event you’d like included? Email all the details to editor@bigrigs. com.au.
Ivanhoe Dry Times Truck, Tractor, Car and Bike OctoberShow 1-2, 2022 Sahara Oval, Ivanhoe, Show-1348021992012877Tractor-Car-and-Bike-hoe-Dry-Times-Truck-facebook.com/IvanNSW
we
That the federal govern ment work with industry and other stakeholders to identify and mitigate bar riers to training and em ployment for marginalised groups. In a detailed letter to King, Dumesny highlights the fact that the Western Australian Government invested $6.1 million in an “extremely suc cessful” joint industry and TAFE Truck Driver training program.Aprogram that trained and employed nearly 90 per cent of its graduates. Key to the success of the program has been the WA Government’s facilitation of active collabo ration between TAFE and in dustry (WRF and TWU), he added.But while the program has been highly successful, the near record low unemploy ment rate in WA means that attracting people to the course has become c.b.a.toandengagedgroups,”aplepools“However,challenging.largepotentialofunderemployedpeohavebeenidentifiedfromvarietyofdisadvantagedsaidDumesny.“WRFhasbeenactivelywiththesegroupswithemployerspreparedemploythem.”Thosegroupsinclude:PrincipalcarersPre-andpost-releaseprisonersIndigenousgroups;andd.Refugeeandmigrantgroups.DumesnyalsoaddedthattheWRFwouldliketoengagewiththeunderemployedmatureagewomensegment.“Asegmentthathasbeen
rotating
MC LOCAL, LINEHAUL &
DRIVERS WANTED
Come and
education • Your safety • Maintaining an
to: • Training and
Morrows
ASIDE from its push to have truck drivers on the Priority Skills Migration List (see page 3), the Western Roads Federa tion (WRF) is also calling on Transport Minister Catherine King to introduce a raft of other oftheysobesuggestionsmesnyfromBelowrecommendations.aremoredetailsWRFCEOCamDuonexactlywhatthoseare,howtheycanimplementedandwhyit’svitaltotheeconomythatareactedonwithadegreeurgency.
a day due to truck driver shortages in the
roster
time, we have become known for our safety culture, commitment to our staff, as well as providing excellent service to our customers. Due to our continuing success, we currently have vacancies for permanent full-time HR and HC drivers servicing metro and regional Victoria daily. Work close to home in Keysborough. Plenty of overtime available plus an RDO per month. WE OFFER: • An amazing and supportive team • A safe and secure workplace • An opportunity to be part of a company that is growing every day • Opportunities for advancement • Excellent wages and conditions To apply for this fantastic opportunity, please forward your resume to peter.gill@morrowslogistics.com.au HC DRIVERS 1st year - $30.00 ordinary hours and $45.00 for all overtime. From 2nd year - $32.00 ordinary hours and $48.00 for all overtime HR DRIVERS 1st year - $29.00 ordinary hours and $43.50 for all overtime. From 2nd year - $31.00 ordinary hours and $46.50 for all overtime YOUR SKILLS: • A good understanding of Safe Work practices • Knowledge of Load Restraint practices • Current heavy vehicle licence – HR or HC ABOUT YOU: Morrows spends a lot of time and focus on supporting our drivers to be the best in our industry, and we believe we have the best driver team in Victoria. We require the following from our staff:• Great work ethic with a positive attitude • Good customer service skills • Availability to work overtime • Good understanding of both metro and country areas FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 02 2022 BIGRIGS.COM.AU
Easter Group Pty LtdEaster Group Pty Ltd 73 Formation St, Wacol Easter Group, located in Wacol, provides time sensitive road transporting solutions to many companies throughout Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria. We are a family owned business, operating since 1976. We currently have the following positions available: OPERATIONS ALLOCATORS (Brisbane based only) You
DRIVER WITH HC OR HR LICENCE Logistics a family-owned which years. During this
Dumesny said his associa tion also passionately believes that the industry needs to utilise the intangible knowl edge and skills of our retiring drivers as mentors for the next generation.“Usingour recently retired drivers both helps mentor the next generation whilst pay ing respect to their acquired knowledge and “Unfortunately,skills.our efforts to use such drivers to mentor the next generation in our state’s training course has been hindered. Because the current taxation rules essentially fi nancially penalises such driv ers who may be on a full or part time pension.” That federal assistance be considered to helping support joint TAFE and in dustry training programs for operations staff. There is a shortage of Op erations Staff for planning, scheduling and compliance. We have approached Perth South TAFE with the view to collaborating on a joint TAFE and Industry training model. The theory being taught by TAFE but with the industry providing access to specialists, Federal Transport Minister Catherine King. WA is losing over $2.8m mining sector.
Fleet On offer
is
The successful Applicant will: • Hold a current MC licence (minimum two years) • Have knowledge of the HVNL and Load Restraint • Be professional • Be reliable To apply for the Operations/Driver positions please contact Operations Manager or by emailing your resume to WORKSHOP MECHANICS & TYRE FITTERS WANTED (Brisbane based only) To apply for Mechanic positions please forward your resume to Workshop Manager via email to employment@kseaster.com.au
54 CAREERS AND TRAINING
Peak body outlines case to will be required to work on a roster including Days-Nights-Weekends Operations experience preferred. 2-UP (Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide Based) work for as are committed further impressive are permanent full time and positions including paid leave entitlements and public holidays. will need to be available to be scheduled for work falling across the 7 days of the week.
Previous
has been operating for 40
identified in numerous federal government reports as having difficulty in finding employ ment,” he said. “Our industry would be keen to engage with this seg ment regarding employment opportunities but have found difficulty in being able to identify an effective means of engagement.” That offset funding of up to 30 per cent be provided to accelerate in-house training and employment programs by large/corporate compa nies. Dumesny told King that despite strong interest from these groups financial and other barriers are preventing them from undertaking the training to enter the industry. “Federal Assistance for these disadvantaged and mar ginalised groups means they could access the training and in turn gain employment from willing employers. “Several of our members have, or are interested in, con ducting in-house traineeships of up to 10 “However,weeks.ithas been de termined that off set funding of up to 30 per cent of the cost of in-house training would accelerate the adoption of inhouse training programs by companies.
Consideration be given to removing taxation barriers to the employment of people on full or part pensions.
business
us
Drivers
Dumesny said WRF has worked with Curtin Universi ty to implement a short course to help to begin to address theseTheissues.course is being de signed to suit mature age and industry experience people, to encourage discussion and to remove perceived negative barriers to tertiary level edu cation. That the Infrastructure and Transport Ministers’ Meeting direct a national ef fort towards prioritising the removal of productivity bar riers in the road transport industry and its interfaces with other modes. Dumesny also argued that the road transport industry faces a myriad of productivity roadblocks.“Such roadblocks com pound the skills shortage whilst simultaneously increas ing carbon emissions from the industry.“The degree of effort to re move the productivity barriers ranges“However,significantly.iffederal and state governments were to di rect a national effort to remove productivity barriers then it would help skills shortage pressure, relieve some pressure on transport cost induced in flation and reduce industry emissions.”
WRF Cam
sites and technology that is in current use to supplement the quality of the training out come.Operations staff also pro vides an entry pathway into the industry especially for some of the marginalised groups, previously identified. That the federal govern ment works with industry to help support the de velopment of a program that helps industry leaders adapt to change and the in creasingly multi-modal na ture of the transport. Dumesny tells King that most transport industry own ers and executives have risen through the “ranks” based on their experience and compe tence.“This is highly commend able and is a tribute to them. However, it is also a narrow base often limited to just the road transport mode,” said Dumesny.“Thiscould create issues for general productivity when opportunities provided by use of or integration with other modes is available.” Secondly, as the road transport industry faces in creases technology and oth er disruptions the lack of a broader base either experi ence or academic can limit the ability to adapt too and/ or take advantage of new op portunities.
Dumesny is lobbying Catherine King for fixes. Declining productivity means more drivers or equipment are needed to complete freight tasks.
Toll embraces and celebrates a variety of cultures. We continue to build a business that reflects the values of equality, built on the knowledge and understanding that everyone is welcome including the First Nations Peoples, and those of all ages, genders, and abilities. Women are actively encouraged to apply.
industry skills shortage Toll Group have full time permanent opportunities for experienced MC/ HC drivers and new drivers wanting to expand their career path for our Fuels Business operating nationally. Benefits: • Permanent Full Time Opportunity • Great hourly Rates and allowances • Career advancement and training opportunities • Safety Obsessed Culture • Modern Fleet with replacement programs • Varying Rosters to provide a work/ life balance • 5 Weeks A/L Skills & Experience • Current MC/HC driver’s license • Current Dangerous Goods (DG) license preferred • Experience in bulk fuel is preferred, but all training will be provided • Basic Fatigue Management accreditation preferred • Experienced MC and HC Drivers Working at Toll At Toll Fuels we are proud to be a leading logistics provider of bulk liquid, you name it we do it from Metro service stations, Jet and Avgas to Mine site distribution with local and linehaul options. Immediate Starts Available in Sydney Fuel Driver Opportunities NATIONALLY
The Role INDUSTRY LEADING RATES OF PAY & SUPERANUATION OF 15% ROSTERS THAT PROVIDE WORK/ LIFE BALANCE IF YOU WANT TO LEARN FUEL WE’RE WILLING TO TRAIN THE RIGHT PEOPLE BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 02 2022 CAREERS AND TRAINING 55 USING OUR RECENTLY RETIRED DRIVERS BOTH HELPS MENTOR THE NEXT GENERATION WHILST PAYING RESPECT TO THEIR ACQUIRED KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS.” CAM DUMESNY, WRF CEO
CEO
fix
All applicants must be entitled to work in Australia and be prepared to undergo a criminal history check, pre-employment medical and/ or drug & alcohol testing as required. If you are interested in any of these roles, please contact John Markham via email at @tollgroup.comjohn.markham or phone 0402 965 715 to discuss further.
MERITOR ALUMINIUM WHEELSRUN® WITH ALUMINIUMRELIABILITYWHEELS Introducing the all-new Meritor Aluminium wheel range. Tested and proven to meet exacting Meritor standards, this durable lightweight range of alloy wheels build on our commitment to keep our customers moving. Run with the Bull. SAECOMPLIANT • M E RITOR • Q U A LITY AP PROVED UNLIMITED KM 5 S (FROM 20.7KG) ©2022 Meritor, Inc. Rigorously tested to exceed SAE J267 standards for proven reliability Additional passivation layers for extra protection against tarnish and corroision Cold flow formed after forging process for greater strength and lightweight designs Available in standard machined finish or high quality mirror polish Suits common truck and trailer applications Learn more at meritorpartsonline.com.au Aluminium Wheel Advantages
